Is breakfast the most important meal of the day?

Question

Breakfast is often called the most important meal of the day. WebMD tells you why and what it can do for you.

Comments

While many experts agree that eating 3 healthy meals a day is good for ones mental and physical health, there is no definitive data or statement that directly defines breakfast as the most important meal of the day. Many other factors need to be taken into account when defining the importance of a certain aspect of ones dietary health.

In a paper published in the National Institute of Health (NIH), we can read that, "Breakfast is often referred to as the most important meal of the day and in recent years has been implicated in weight control, cardio-metabolic risk factors and cognitive performance although, at present, the literature remains inconclusive as to the precise health benefits of breakfast." This means that there has not been a definitive answer as to whether or not breakfast is THE most important meal of the day. In the same article it also states that "significant variation exists in the definitions of breakfast and breakfast skippers, and in methods used to relate breakfast nutrient intakes to overall diet quality". This points to the conclusion that different definitions exist for different people and that different results can be observed within different diets

In the same source cited in the claim, it is stated that "Breakfast kick-starts your metabolism, helping you burn calories throughout the day. It also gives you the energy you need to get things done and helps you focus at work or at school. Those are just a few reasons why it’s the most important meal of the day.
Many studies have linked eating breakfast to good health, including better memory and concentration, lower levels of “bad” LDL cholesterol, and lower chances of getting diabetes, heart disease, and being overweight. It’s hard to know, though, if breakfast causes these healthy habits or if people who eat it have healthier lifestyles", supporting the point that different dietary lifestyles cannot be used to define breakfast as the most important meal of the day.

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5986439/#sec1-nutrients-10-00559
https://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/breakfast-lose-weight

Answer 1

This article discusses the benefits of eating breakfast, specifically as it pertains to children. A lot of these benefits are supported by research and studies. For example, the fact that eating breakfast in the morning jumpstarts metabolism is a widely agreed upon fact that can be confirmed with multiple sources. Similarly, the downside it can have on youth performance in school is also emphasized across multiple sources (https://www.goodrx.com/well-being/diet-nutrition/breakfast-most-important-meal-day). 

Most notably though, this article from its title to its contents allows this fact to be applied to personal circumstances. It doesn't declare breakfast as the most important meal, it simply suggests its benefits without enforcing too much. A lot of other articles discussing this topic take a similar approach by ultimately concluding with the fact that the meal's important depends on the individual.

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/is-breakfast-really-the-most-important-meal-of-the-day#Evidence-in-support-of-eating-breakfast

https://health.clevelandclinic.org/do-you-really-need-to-eat-breakfast

Comments

You did a great job presenting the evidence for the benefits of eating breakfast, especially by referencing credible sources like Cleveland Clinic and Medical News Today. However, I think it’s worth digging deeper into the idea that breakfast “jumpstarts metabolism.” While widely believed, some research suggests that the effect of breakfast on metabolism might be overstated or varies greatly between individuals. Adding a source or study that explores the nuance of this claim could strengthen your argument.

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I really like this fact-check and I really liked that you focused specifically on children. I also liked that you provided multiple different sources to back up your claim. I do agree with the comment above that digging into metabolism would be helpful but other than that it's a very strong fact-check.

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The articles that conclude the benefits of eating breakfast in the morning do not just apply to children. They're are benefits for everyone. Everyone's body in the morning is low of energy since we just fasted for 7-10 hours during the night. Once we wake up in the morning, we should feed ourselves to get back nutrients in our bodies and fuel them. Personally, I feel a lot more energized when i have a meal in the morning, versus when i don't.
"Eating breakfast can have positive effects on both your mind and body, no matter what age you are," (Williams 2024).

https://www.goodrx.com/well-being/diet-nutrition/breakfast-most-important-meal-day

Answer 2

The claim states that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. After fact-checking this claim I believe it to be true. There are a lot of benefits that come with eating breakfast in the morning. Eating breakfast “jumpstarts your metabolism and, thus, helps you burn more calories throughout the day.” The source provided gives a lot of good information, and I found another source from Rush University Medical Center that gives a lot of the same information, but is helpful as well. One thing I have noticed is that these fact-checks simply speak about the importance of the meal itself, and that skipping it is not as beneficial as not skipping it, but they fail to say anywhere that it is actually the most important meal of the day. Overall, it is clear that breakfast is important, but it’s hard to say that it is the most important meal of the day, as that depends more on other factors. 

Comments

I agree with your comment that breakfast holds many benefits to everyday life. Also, since there is multiple health and University research about this topic, there is more proof to tell us why it is the most important meal of the day. After reading more about the benefits of breakfast, here is a quote to put it in a better perspective, "In the morning, after you have gone without food for as long as 12 hours, your glycogen stores are low. Once all of the energy from your glycogen stores is used up, your body starts to break down fatty acids to produce the energy it needs. But without carbohydrate, fatty acids are only partially oxidised, which can reduce your energy levels," (Laurens 2024). So in fact, breakfast is the most important meal of the day, since it starts off one's day.
https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/breakfast

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I agree with much of what you’ve mentioned about the benefits of eating breakfast, particularly in terms of boosting metabolism and helping with calorie burn. It's clear from multiple sources, like the one from Rush University Medical Center, that breakfast can provide important nutrients and energy to start the day. The claim that eating breakfast helps jumpstart metabolism seems well-supported by research.

Answer 3

Society has always said that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. While breakfast kick-starts you metabolism, it also burns calories all throughout the day.  After reading the article the person added, the quote I found most useful was, "Many studies have linked eating breakfast to good health, including better memory and concentration," (Hill 2024). This made me look up the claim in another tab to look for more articles about the same topic. On the Better Health Channel, a quote I found educating was, "Breakfast breaks the overnight fasting period. It replenishes your supply of glucose to boost your energy levels and alertness, while also providing other essential nutrients required for good health," (Laurens 2024). I can agree this claim is true. I personally feel a lot more energized and focused when I have something nutritious in the morning. 

https://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/breakfast-lose-weight

https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/breakfast

Answer 4

Food is necessary to fuel your body and by eating in the morning before beginning your day's activity, you are providing yourself the necessary sustenance for sustained activity. Studies have found correlation between students who don’t eat breakfast and decreased performance in school, and one quote from Better Health states “(Breakfast) replenishes your supply of glucose to boost your energy levels and alertness.”. An interesting thought is that breakfast, meaning ‘to break the fast of the night’ may not be a regular occurrence in a niche group of peoples lives, for example those who work night shifts and sleep through ‘breakfast time’, would dinner then be the most important meal of the day? Some questions surface, but in general it will depend on the individual and the time and nature of their daily activities in deciding the importance of breakfast. 

Buckingham, C. (2022, March). Why Is Breakfast Considered the Most Important Meal of the Day? GoodRx. https://www.goodrx.com/well-being/diet-nutrition/breakfast-most-important-meal-day 

Health. (2019). Breakfast. Vic.gov.au. https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/breakfast

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