Research On The Benefits Of Eating Breakfast For Children

Most children don't eat breakfast all the time, according to surveys conducted by the American Dietetic Association. Forty-two percent of Caucasian and Hispanic children don't eat breakfast all the time, and 59 percent of African American children don't, notes the ADA. Regularly consuming breakfast may benefit children's physical and mental health, some studies show.

Nutrition

In 2005, researchers from the University of Florida conducted a review of studies examining breakfast consumption in children and adolescents. The review, published in the "Journal of the American Dietetic Association," found that children and adolescents who reported eating breakfast regularly typically had superior nutritional profiles to those who skipped breakfast. In a 2006 study published in the "Journal of the American Dietetic Association," researchers from the Mathematica Policy Research group found that the availability of free school breakfast improved children's nutrient intake during breakfast but not over a 24-hour period.

Weight

In the 2005 review published in the "Journal of the American Dietetic Association," University of Florida researchers found that children who reported regularly eating breakfast were less likely to be overweight. In a 2005 study published in the journal "Acta Biomedica," researchers from the University of Parma found that 27.5 percent of children who reported skipping breakfast were overweight and 9.6 percent were obese, while only 9.1 percent of children who reported eating breakfast were overweight and only 4.5 percent were obese.

Academic Performance

The 2005 review of breakfast studies in the "Journal of the American Dietetic Association" suggested that breakfast consumption may improve children's memory performance, test scores and school attendance. However, in a 2009 article published in the journal "Nutrition Research Reviews," researchers from the University of Leeds suggested that school breakfast programs may have positive effects on academic performance partly because they promote more consistent school attendance.

Further Research

In a 2009 article in "Nutrition Research Reviews," researchers from the University of Leeds called for further research on the effects of breakfast on children's nutrition and academic performance. The researchers suggest studies comparing breakfast types in order to establish an optimal size and nutrient composition for children's breakfasts.

Bottom Line

Although further research may be needed to establish specific breakfast recommendations, sufficient evidence exists to support the consumption of breakfast in general, according to the American Dietetic Association and the Mayo Clinic. Breakfast provides an opportunity for children to get important nutrients that can fuel their physical activity and mental performance throughout the morning.