Eating breakfast is especially important for children because this first meal of the day provides them with the nutrients and energy they need to tackle their daily tasks, but many are reluctant to eat food in the morning and this could also affect their emotional well-being. A new study involving 155,451 children and adolescents aged 10 to 17 from 42 countries has found that those who frequently skip breakfast have lower life satisfaction than those who do eat breakfast.
The research was led by experts from Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) and the University of the Americas. Its results have been published in BMC Nutrition Journal and show an almost linear relationship between a higher frequency of breakfast and greater life satisfaction among participants. The highest life satisfaction score was identified in those who ate breakfast daily, while the lowest life satisfaction score was observed in minors who never ate breakfast.
Skipping breakfast can increase anxiety and stress
Among the 42 countries studied, children who ate breakfast every day in Portugal had the highest levels of life satisfaction. In contrast, the lowest life satisfaction scores were found in children in Romania who never ate breakfast, indicating that possible socioeconomic factors also influence the results. Among children who ate breakfast every day, children in England had the fifth lowest average life satisfaction score, behind only Romania, Hungary, Germany and Austria.
“A proper breakfast provides the energy and nutrients necessary for optimal cognitive functioning and improves concentration, memory and learning ability”
“Our study was wide-ranging and found a consistent association between breakfast frequency and life satisfaction, and there are several potential reasons for this. There have been previous studies showing lower mood among teenagers who skipped breakfast and also higher rates of anxiety, stress and depression,” said Lee Smith, Professor of Public Health at Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) and lead author of the study. “Additionally, eating a proper breakfast provides the energy and nutrients needed for optimal cognitive functioning and improves concentration, memory and learning ability.”
“Another reason could be the mix of vitamins and minerals we get from our daily breakfast, and not consuming them regularly can result in lower life satisfaction over time. A regular routine that includes breakfast can also bring structure and a positive tone to the rest of the day.”
“The results showed some inconsistencies between countries, which could be influenced by different cultures and lifestyles and socioeconomic factors. However, despite this, our results show that in all countries examined, reported life satisfaction is generally higher in those who eat breakfast daily than in those who never eat breakfast,” he concludes.
