The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends eating breakfast as a way to avoid weight gain but the science behind it may not be as clear as desired, says the Washington Post. It says “the tidbit about skipping breakfast is based on scientific speculation, not certainty.” In a four-week-long experiment in New York, the only participants who lost weight were those who did not eat breakfast, says the Post, and it says other trials found that skipping breakfast led to lower weight or no change in weight. The advice on eating breakfast, says the Post, was based mostly on observational studies, which may have large numbers of subjects but may be harder to assess for accuracy.
The panel of experts advising the government on the upcoming edition of the guidelines “steered clear of the subject of skipping breakfast and weight,” says the Post. The 2015 guidelines, due later this year, already inspired controversy over cholesterol, red meat, and salt. “The Dietary Guidelines are important because they shape the contents of school lunches and other federally subsidized programs, and because amid widespread obesity, so many people look to them for sound eating advice,” said the Post.