Study shows big breakfasts may help contribute to weight loss

(http://www.theaustralian.com.au) A new research study has shown that eating a big breakfast helps contribute to weight loss.

Scientists performed the study on 93 obese women showing symptoms of metabolic syndrome, which can lead to diabetes, who were split into two groups and given carefully structured meals.

Both groups ate 1400 calories a day for 12 weeks. One group ate 200 calories for breakfast, 500 for lunch and 700 for dinner, while the other group ate 700 calories for breakfast, 500 for lunch and 700 for dinner.

After 12 weeks, the researchers found that women in the "big breakfast" group lost an average of 8.07 kg, whereas in the other group, women's weight loss averaged at just 3.31 kg.

The big breakfast group also experienced significant reductions in blood levels of insulin, glucose and triglyceride fats. Triglycerides, which contribute to heart disease, fell by more than a third in the big breakfast group but increased by 14.6 per cent in the "big dinner" group.

The researchers, led by Daniela Jakubowicz of the Tel Aviv University in Israel, wrote in the journal, Obesity, "Our results demonstrate that high-calorie breakfast shows increased compliance and is more beneficial than high-calorie dinner for weight loss, insulin sensitivity, and hunger suppression."

"Our study indicates that avoidance of large meals in the evening may be particularly beneficial in improving glucose and lipid (fat) profiles and may lead to reduced risk of Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases."