A world first study conducted by Menzies Research Institute Tasmania (Menzies) has shown that skipping breakfast over a long period of time may increase your risk of heart disease and diabetes.

A world first study conducted by Menzies Research Institute Tasmania (Menzies) has shown that skipping breakfast over a long period of time may increase your risk of heart disease and diabetes.

This new study was recently published online in the international journal American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

Skipping breakfast is a fairly common practice with 23 per cent of adults and 10 per cent of children reporting they did not regularly eat breakfast in the 1995 National Nutrition Survey (Australia) and there is evidence that skipping breakfast is becoming more common.

Previous studies have shown eating breakfast is good for weight management.

First author and chief investigator of the paper, Menzies' PhD student Ms Kylie Smith says results from our new study show that not only is breakfast good for weight management, but it is also good for reducing  otherrisk factors for heart disease and diabetes such as blood insulin and cholesterol levels, independently of weight.

"People who reported skipping breakfast both during childhood and adulthood had more risk factors for diabetes and heart disease than their peers who ate breakfast at both times in the study," Ms Smith said.

The investigation was part of the national Childhood Determinants of Adult Health (CDAH) study. Over 2,000 participants were involved with the breakfast skipping study.

"We used data from a large nation-wide study with a 20 year follow-up from childhood to early adulthood."

"Compared to those who ate breakfast both as a child and an adult, those who skipped breakfast on both occasions had a larger waist circumference, and had higher fasting insulin, total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol (the bad cholesterol), which are all risk factors for heart disease and diabetes," Ms Smith said.

 "We've always known that eating breakfast helps with concentration, weight control and good nutrition, but this study provides further evidence that breakfast is the most important meal of the day," said Ms Susan Anderson, National Director - Healthy Weight, Heart Foundation.

"If parents wanted to do just one thing to help ensure the good health of their children now and into the future, it could be to make sure that no-one leaves the house in the mornings without breakfast."

"Wholegrain breakfast cereals with reduced fat milk, baked beans or poached eggs on wholegrain toast, fresh fruit and reduced fat yoghurt are all quick and easy nutritious breakfasts that will help set the family up for the day," Ms Anderson said.

Senior author, Menzies' Deputy Director, Professor Alison Venn says overall the findings support that people should aim to have a healthy, balanced diet, and eating a healthy breakfast is part of this.

"Promoting the benefits of eating breakfast could be a simple and important public health message," Professor Venn said.

The study included authors from Menzies Research Institute Tasmania, Deakin University and the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute.

This research was funded by grants from the National Health and Medical Research Council, the National Heart Foundation, the Tasmanian Community Fund, and Veolia Environmental Services.

For Nutritional advice and breakfast ideas go to the Healthy Eating section of the National Heart Foundation website: http://www.heartfoundation.org.au/sites/healthyeating/Pages/default.aspx

Information Released by:

Fiona Horwood, Communications Manager

Phone: 6226 7751 Mobile: 0409 357 384

Email: Fiona.Horwood@menzies.utas.edu.au

Contact:

Phone:

Email: