Morning Calories Reduce Daily Calories

News Note

By Lara Evans Bracciante

Originally published in Massage & Bodywork magazine, August/September 2004.

Eating breakfast can result in fewer total calories for the day, according to a recent study published in The Journal of Nutrition. Researchers at the University of Texas in El Paso analyzed the weekly food diaries of nearly 900 adults. They consistently found that when more calories were eaten in the morning, calorie intake for the entire day was less in those subjects who skipped breakfast. And the more calories consumed in the evening, the larger the daily calorie intake.

Researchers postulate that the body’s ability to recognize when it’s full is stronger in the morning than the evening, providing a sense of a.m. satiety lacking later in the day. Consequently, depriving yourself of food throughout the day may be a setup for overeating at night. The bottom line: Eat a healthy breakfast, and don’t skip lunch.