Daily regularity in breakfast consumption is associated with a healthier weight in women

Prior research has pointed to eating breakfast as being linked to a healthier weight. This link most notably comes from the National Weight Control Registry. The fact is that the evidence suggests that regular eating patterns may be favorable with respect to weight status. Breakfast may be a particularly important meal for weight maintenance, but it might be the consistent day-to-day frequency and timing of consumption and not whether you eat the meal every day.

Research from 2019 looked at this very issue​[1]​. The researchers in this study examined the relationship between regular breakfast consumption habits and weight status among women. The study looked at day-to-day regularity in breakfast consumption among 46,037 women in relation to weight status. Outcomes included were BMI, waist circumference, and waist-to-hip ratio.

The results revealed that women who reported eating breakfast 3 to 4 days/week when compared to women who ate breakfast 7 days/week were less likely to be obese. Women who never ate breakfast were also less likely to be obese when compared to irregular breakfast eaters. In fact, regular eaters and non-eaters of breakfast were nearly 25% less likely to be overweight or obese.

The bottom line: Regular meal schedule and not the consumption of breakfast is tied to a healthier weight. I would suggest that you develop a regular eating schedule. I would never suggest you add breakfast if do not eat it regularly. I would suggest less meal variability and it might help you maintain a healthy weight.