Children who skip breakfast are most likely to be unhappy, research shows
Research shows that children who regularly skip breakfast are more likely to feel unhappy.
Research has shown that the more often children between the ages of 10 and 17 eat breakfast, the more satisfied they are with their lives.
They analysed data from almost 150,000 young people from 42 countries, including the UK.
The highest life satisfaction scores were found among participants who ate breakfast every day, and the lowest scores were found among children who never ate breakfast.
There are several reasons for this, researchers say, including how the vitamins and nutrients in breakfast can help students concentrate and learn better in school.
The highest life satisfaction scores were found among participants who ate breakfast every day and the lowest among children who never ate breakfast (stock image)
Researchers believe there are several reasons why children are happy, including how the vitamins and nutrients in breakfast can help students concentrate and learn in school.
Of the countries surveyed, children in Portugal who ate breakfast every day were found to be the most satisfied with their lives.
In contrast, the lowest life satisfaction scores were found among children from Romania who never ate breakfast.
Researchers from Anglia Ruskin University and Universidad de las Americas say their findings also point to possible socio-economic factors.
Of the children who ate breakfast every day, children in England had the fifth lowest average life satisfaction score, after Romania, Hungary, Germany and Austria.
Lead author Lee Smith, Professor of Public Health at ARU, said: ‘Our study was broad in scope and found a consistent association between breakfast frequency and life satisfaction. There are several possible reasons for this.
Previous studies have shown that adolescents who skip breakfast have a depressed mood and are more likely to suffer from anxiety, stress and depression.
Of the countries studied, children who eat breakfast every day in Portugal had the highest levels of life satisfaction. In contrast, the lowest life satisfaction scores were found among children from Romania who never eat breakfast (stock image)
Among children who ate breakfast every day, children in England had the fifth lowest average life satisfaction scores, after Romania, Hungary, Germany and Austria (stock image)
In addition, a good breakfast provides the necessary energy and nutrients for optimal cognitive functioning and improves concentration, memory and learning ability.
Another reason could be the mix of vitamins and minerals that we get through our daily breakfast. If we don’t get them regularly, it can lead to a lower life satisfaction in the long run.
‘A regular routine that includes breakfast can also provide structure and a positive tone for the rest of the day.
‘The results showed some inconsistencies between countries, which may have been influenced by different cultures, lifestyles and socio-economic factors.
‘However, our research shows that across all countries, reported life satisfaction is generally higher among people who eat breakfast every day than among people who never eat breakfast.’ The findings were published in the BMC Nutrition Journal.
