Study: protein -rich breakfast particularly important for young people

Baum Ji, Gray M, Binns A. Protein -rich breakfasts increase postprandial energy consumption, increase fat oxidation and reduce hunger for overweight children aged 8 to 12 years [published online ahead of print 12, 2015]. j nutr. doi: 10.3945/JN.115.214551.

This randomized study with crossover design examined the differences in postprandial energy metabolism, fat oxidation and reduced food intake at lunch after either a protein-based breakfast or a carbohydrate-based breakfast for normal-weight and overweight children between the ages of 8 and 12.

Data from 16 normal -weighted children (BMI 85. Age securities) were analyzed, which were assigned to a group that either a protein -rich breakfast (344 kcal, 21 % protein, 52 % carbohydrates and 27 % fat) or a carbohydrate -rich breakfast (327 kcal, 4 % protein, 29 % fat). During the following 4 hours, energy consumption, substrate oven, appetite and blood glucose were measured in 15-minute, 30-minute, 60-minute, 120-minute and 240-minute intervals. After 4 hours, the participants received access to a meal buffet and the amount of food consumption was measured.

overweight/obese children who received a protein -rich breakfast had higher energy consumption ( p <0.0001) and fat oxidation than in both normal weight groups. Both with normal weight and overweight/obese children, the fat oxidation was higher ( p <0.05) in the group that had a protein -rich breakfast, and carbohydrate oxidation was 32 % higher ( p <0.01) at 4 hours. The blood sugar levels after 30 minutes were much higher (+10 %; p <0.05) in the group, which received the carbohydrate -rich breakfast, but were higher in the group at 240 min, which received the protein -rich breakfast (93.7 + 1.1 vs. 88.1 + 1.3; p <0.01). All children who received the protein-rich breakfast reported less hungry (-145; p <0.01) and increased feeling of satiety (+32 %; p <0.05) compared to those who received the carbohydrate-rich breakfast. At lunch there was no difference between normal weight and overweight/obese children in the amount of food intake.

While the importance of a protein -rich breakfast among health practitioners and their patients is now quite accepted, this study emphasizes the effects that could have this especially for children. A protein-rich breakfast not only seems to be better stabilized over time and increase fat and carbohydratoxidation, but- possibly surprising and exciting- overweight/obese children seem to have a higher energy consumption after a protein-rich breakfast than normal weight, who have consumed a protein or carbohydrate-rich breakfast.

The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (Nhanes) of the US Ministry of Health tells us that the prevalence of obesity in adolescents from 1999 to 2014 increased and that the prevalence of obesity in adolescents was 17 %. By 2012, 16.9 % of children between the ages of 2 and 19 were obese (measured by a BMI at or above the 95th percentile for gender CDC growth diagrams). 2 If we go a little deeper, we find that the prevalence of obesity has also increased proportionally with the age group. Between 2009 and 2012, the prevalence of obesity was 10.3 % in children aged 2 to 5 years, 17.9 % in children between the ages of 6 and 11 and 19.4 % in adolescents between the ages of 12 and 19, both in boys and girls.

Another study published in September 2015 compared a breakfast with a normal protein content with a breakfast with a high protein content with overweight/obese young people who normally release breakfast. The study showed that a protein -rich breakfast with improved weight control, a voluntary reduction in food intake and a reduction in daily hunger correlated. 4 We see from several studies that a protein -rich breakfast actually reduces the perceived hunger and the reaction -fast food consumption in adolescents, which leads to better weight control.

The change of carbohydrate-rich cereals and eggo waffles to protein-rich options is only part of the challenge. The bigger struggle, which may face the practitioner, changes the reality that 20 % to 30 % of young people completely miss breakfast. ⁵ We have to face the realities in which these young people live - time pressure and low incomes have become serious obstacles that may be the root of this dilemma. Perhaps we can not only tell our patients that they should eat more protein or "find time for breakfast", but instead we can teach them how they can enable this through simple and affordable meal preparation options for on the go. By finding a way to make breakfast accessible to this population group, through direct work with teenagers or indirectly through the support of parents/schools, we can possibly influence important modifiable health factors before these "children" stumble into our offices during their 30s and 40s.

1. Ogden Cl, Carroll Md, Fryar CD, Flegal km. Prevalence of obesity in adults and adolescents: USA, 2011-2014. nchs data letter. 2015; (219): 1-8.
2. OGDEN CL, Carroll MD, Kit BK, Flegal km. Prevalence of obesity in children and adults in the United States, 2011-2012. Jama . 2014; 311 (8): 806-814.
3. Health, USA, 2014: With special functions for adults aged 55–64 years . Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics; 2015.
4. Leidy HJ, Hoertel Ha, Douglas SM, Higgins Ka, Shafer RS. A protein -rich breakfast prevents body fats from reducing daily admission and hunger among young people who do without breakfast [Published Online Ahead of Print August 4, 2015]. obesity , silver spring . 2015; 23 (9): 1761-1764. DOI: 10.1002/OBY.21185.
5. The case for breakfast. Website of the American Academy of Pediatrics . Updated on November 21, 2015.