Mom always said breakfast was the most important meal of the day, and a new review of recent scientific studies of children?s breakfast consumption indicates she may have been on to something.
A group led by researchers at the University of Florida examined the results of 47 studies to determine relationships among children?s breakfast consumption, body weight and academic performance.
The studies showed that, even though the quality of breakfasts varied, children who consistently ate breakfast had superior nutritional profiles than those children who skipped breakfast.
The review of the studies also found breakfast eaters generally consumed more calories each day, but were less likely to be overweight.
Results also indicated eating breakfast may improve children?s memory, test grades and school attendance.
Parents should be encouraged to provide breakfast for their children or explore the availability of a school breakfast program, the researchers write.