Daily consumption of healthy breakfast lowers type 2 diabetes risk in kids

A new study has revealed that regular consumption of a healthy breakfast may help children lower their risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

Researchers have found an association between children who reported skipping breakfast most days and higher levels of known diabetes risk factors.

In a cross-sectional study of 4,116 primary school children 9-10 years old in the UK, the children responded to questions about how often and what they ate for breakfast, and blood tests measured diabetes risk markers such as fasting insulin, glucose, and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c). Twenty-six percent of children reported not having breakfast every day.

It was found that children who reported usually not having breakfast had higher fasting insulin, higher insulin resistance, slightly higher HbA1c, and slightly higher glucose than those who reported always eating breakfast. Additionally, among children who completed a 24 hour dietary recall, those who reported eating a high fiber, cereal breakfast had lower insulin resistance than those eating other types of food, such as biscuit-based breakfasts.

The scientists said that the observed associations suggest that regular breakfast consumption, particularly involving consumption of a high fibre cereal, could protect against the early development of type 2 diabetes risk.

The study was published in PLOS Medicine.