Indulging in favorite foods for breakfast may contribute to weight loss and make it easier not to regain weight, according to a Tel Aviv University study. To investigate how meal timing and composition influences weight loss and maintenance, 193 obese study participants were given low-calorie diets, but they were randomly assigned to either receive a 300-calorie breakfast or a 600-calorie breakfast, high in both protein and carbohydrates and including a piece of cake. The study lasted for 32 weeks, with both groups losing the same amount of weight by week 16, but at the end of 32 weeks the group who had dessert with breakfast lost an average of 39.6 pounds more than those who ate the 300-calorie breakfast. “They key is to indulge in the morning, when the body’s metabolism is at its most active and we are better able to work off the extra calories throughout the day,” says study author Daniela Jakubowicz. “Adding dessert items to breakfast can control cravings throughout the rest of the day.” Typically, dieters experiencing withdrawal-like feelings, or rewarding themselves for reaching a weight-loss goal, may overindulge favorite, forbidden foods. Eating a favorite food at breakfast helps control feelings of deprivation and addiction. In addition, ghrelin, the hunger hormone, rises before meals, but is most regulated at breakfast time.
