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By Stephen Beach, via SWNS
Children who skip breakfast are less happy in life, new research suggests.
Research shows that young people aged 10 to 17 who frequently skip breakfast have lower life satisfaction than those who eat breakfast regularly.
The study, led by Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) and Mexico’s University of Las Americas, analysed data from more than 150,000 children in 42 countries around the world, including the UK.
A study published in the BMC Nutrition Journal found a near-direct correlation between eating breakfast more frequently and greater life satisfaction among children and teens.
Participants who ate breakfast every day had the highest life satisfaction scores, while children who never ate breakfast had the lowest life satisfaction scores.
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Portuguese children who ate breakfast every day had the highest life satisfaction of any of the 42 countries surveyed.
The lowest life satisfaction scores were among children in Romania who never ate breakfast, which the researchers say indicates socio-economic factors may also be influencing the results.
Among children who eat breakfast every day, children in England had the fifth lowest average life satisfaction score, behind Romania, Hungary, Germany and Austria.
ARU’s Professor Lee Smith, lead author of the study, said: “Our research was extensive and we found a consistent association between breakfast frequency and life satisfaction. There are a number of potential reasons for this.”
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“Research has shown that young people who skip breakfast have lower moods and higher rates of anxiety, stress and depression.”
“In addition, eating a good breakfast provides the energy and nutrients needed for optimal cognitive function, improving concentration, memory and learning.
“Another reason is the combination of vitamins and minerals we get from breakfast every day, which, if not consumed regularly, can lead to lower life satisfaction over time.
“A regular routine that includes breakfast can also bring structure and a positive vibe to the rest of the day.”
Smith added: “There were some inconsistencies in the survey results between countries, which may be influenced by diverse cultural, lifestyle and socio-economic factors.”
“Despite this, our findings show that across all countries studied, people who eat breakfast every day report higher overall life satisfaction than those who skip breakfast at all.”
