Breakfast vs. Dinner

Can eating a large breakfast and small dinner help with weight loss?

In a recent study, scientists randomly assigned 74 overweight or obese women with metabolic syndrome (having at least 3 out of 5 of the following: low HDL “good” cholesterol; elevated blood pressure, blood sugar, and/or blood triglycerides; and increased waist size) into two groups. Both groups were given a 1,400-calorie diet for weight loss and assigned to the breakfast group or the dinner group. In the breakfast group, the women consumed more calories at breakfast and fewer calories at dinner (Breakfast-700 calories, Lunch-500 calories, Dinner-200 calories). In the dinner group, the women were advised to consume fewer calories at breakfast and more calories at dinner (Breakfast-200 calories, Lunch-500 calories, Dinner-700 calories).

After 12 weeks, the breakfast group showed greater weight loss, waist circumference reduction, and lower blood sugar compared to the dinner group. The mean triglyceride levels decreased by 34% in the breakfast group and rose by 15% in the dinner group. The breakfast group also reported being less hungry during the 12 weeks compared to the dinner group.

This is only one study, which isn’t enough to prove that a bigger breakfast leads to more weight loss than a bigger dinner. However, we do know that eating breakfast every morning is important for weight loss and maintaining a healthy weight.

Check out the full article http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/oby.20460/full