We’ve all heard that the key to being healthy and fit is to never skip breakfast. There is a popular belief that having breakfast everyday makes you thinner, and skipping it can make you fat. But how true is this belief? There have been several researches and debates held on this, but without any definite answer. We explore the idea of whether breakfast can be really beneficial or not.

Your body and its ability to absorb nutrients, metabolize them depends upon your age and your daily habits. Studies show that breakfast in the morning has a positive influence on kids, on their performance in school, particularly in students younger than 18. However, for adults, it is a different ballgame altogether.

The people who are deep into the fitness fad and want to get thinner believe that skipping breakfast can lead to consuming lesser calories in the day. This calorie deficit could have another undesired effect – eating less could affect metabolism and the metabolic rate might end up decreasing. Therefore, starving syourself a good idea for long-term?

Some studies have observed that people who skip breakfast are more likely to be overweight. This theory suggests that those who kip breakfast end up eating more at lunch or snacking all day, therefore increasing the number of calories.

Changing one’s normal routine can affect their body weight. Eating an early meal causes our cortisol (responsible for metabolism) to rise in levels more than it does later on. The body therefore becomes resistant to insulin over time and can lead to type 2 diabetes. However some nutrition experts say that high level of cortisol is natural In order for other tissues to respond well to food intake, you need an initial trigger involving carbs responding to insulin.

The American fad of eating cereals also has its own history cereal brands claimed it builds muscles, fires up brain, keep ailments away etc. According to a report by Vox, some studies that claimed breakfast helps in losing weight. But another set of studies that analysed this researched showed that there was no concrete proof that supported the idea of consuming breakfast helped keep a low body mass index. The studies that showed these were funded by the companies like Kellog’s.

So in the end, it really depends upon you. Nutritionists will emphasize the importance of hydration as soon as we wake up. So if you’re hungry, eat! If not, drink a big glass of water and go about your day. It’s your call in the end, really!