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23 January 2009
Farmhouse Breakfast Week 25th-31st January 2009
Breakfast is widely considered to be the most important meal of the day for the whole family and to highlight this next week is national Farmhouse Breakfast week.
Regular consumption of breakfast, particularly one that includes breakfast cereals, has a multitude of health benefits. It is important for the overall nutritional quality of the diet and is associated with a reduced likelihood of being overweight or obese.
A recent meta-analysis of nine studies involving both adults and children found that people who eat breakfast cereals regularly tend to have a lower body mass index (BMI) and are less likely to be overweight than those who do not eat breakfast cereals regularly.1 A more recent study, in this case involving 700 children aged 10-12 years old, found that boys who consumed breakfast cereal were 46% less likely to be obese or overweight and the risk of obesity and overweight in girls who ate breakfast cereals was reduced by 59%.2
Having regular breakfast can also improve cognition and learning in children. Research done by the Cardiff University School of Psychology showed that eating breakfast helps children function better in school than those who skip the first meal of the day.3 The results revealed children who have breakfast cereal are more alert, less tired, less anxious and less likely to suffer memory and attention span difficulties, than those that have no breakfast
A study published last year shed even more light on why breakfast cereal, in particular, is the best way to start the day.4 This was a 10-year study conducted by researchers at the US National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute which found that those who eat cereal also eat less fatty foods, meat, eggs and sugary drinks throughout the rest of the day and are more likely to take physical exercise.
A spokesperson from the Breakfast Cereal Information Service commented: “The importance of eating a healthy breakfast has been well recognised by experts for a number of years. Initiatives such as Farmhouse Breakfast Week help to raise the awareness of the fantastic health benefits of a healthy breakfast and how simple food options such as breakfast cereal have the potential to significantly improve our health.”
-Ends-
For more information, please contact
Julia Riddle on 020 7052 8859 / Julia.riddle@nexuspr.com
or
Caroline Lynch on 020 7052 8855 / caroline.lynch@nexuspr.com
Notes to Editor:
1 De la Hunty A, Ashwell A. Are people who regularly eat breakfast cereals slimmer than
those who don't? A systematic review of the evidence. Nutrition Bulletin 2007;32:, 118-128.
2 Panagiotakos DB, Antonogeorgos G, Papadimitriou A et al. Breakfast cereal is associated with a lower prevalence of obesity among 10-12-year-old children: the PANACEA study. Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis. 2008 Nov;18(9):606-12.
3 Smith AP. Breakfast cereal consumption and subjective reports of health by young adults. Nutr Neurosci. 2003 Feb;6(1):59-61
4Alberton AM, Thompson D, Franko DL, et al. Consumption of breakfast Cereal is associated with positive health outcomes, evidence from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute Growth and Health Study; Nutrition Research 28 (2008) 744-752.
Farmhouse Breakfast Week is an annual campaign that emphasises the importance of eating a healthy breakfast every day. 'Think Breakfast' is the theme of this year's celebration to encourage everyone to wake up to breakfast as part of a healthy balanced diet and active lifestyle. Nutritionists agree that a healthy breakfast is essential for starting the day. http://www.farmhousebreakfast.com/
The Breakfast Cereal Information Service is a resource providing easily accessible information on breakfast cereals and the breakfast cereal industry on behalf of the Association of Cereal Food Manufacturers (ACFM)
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