Eating breakfast, particularly meals rich in protein, increases levels of a brain chemical called dopamine which causes feelings of satiation, and reduces food cravings and overeating during the rest of the day.
From the newly published scientific study in Nutrition Journal, researcher Heather J Leidy says “Our research showed that people experience a dramatic decline in cravings for sweet foods when they eat breakfast, … breakfasts that are high in protein also reduced cravings for savory — or high-fat — foods. On the other hand, if breakfast is skipped, these cravings continue to rise throughout the day.”
This study evaluated effects of different breakfasts on people’s levels of dopamine, a brain chemical involved in moderating food cravings. Eating initiates a release of dopamine, which stimulates feelings of satiation.
It was also found as she stated that, “Dopamine levels are blunted in individuals who are overweight or obese, which means that it takes much more stimulation — or food — to elicit feelings of reward; we saw similar responses within breakfast-skippers.”
The average age of the study participants was just 19. But the researchers who were interested in the phenomenon of teens skipping breakfast feel that the underlying science regarding breakfast’s effects on the brain and eating patterns can be generalized to the population at large.
“In the U.S., people are skipping breakfast more frequently, which is associated with food cravings, overeating and obesity,” Leidy said. “It used to be that nearly 100 percent of American adults, kids and teens were eating breakfast, but over the last 50 years, we have seen a decrease in eating frequency and an increase in obesity.”
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