Wanna reduce overeating? Eat a protein-rich breakfast

Eating a healthy breakfast, especially one high in protein, increases satiety and reduces hunger throughout the day, a University of Missouri researcher has found.

In addition, using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) the researchers found that eating a protein-rich breakfast reduces the brain signals controlling food motivation and reward-driven eating behaviour.

Eating healthy, protein-rich breakfasts, such as waffles made with protein powder, can be a simple strategy for improving appetite control and preventing overeating.

"Incorporating a healthy breakfast containing protein-rich foods can be a simple strategy for people to stay satisfied longer, and therefore, be less prone to snacking," said Heather Leidy, assistant professor in the MU department of nutrition and exercise physiology.

 "People reach for convenient snack foods to satisfy their hunger between meals, but these foods are almost always high in sugar and fat and add a substantial amount of calories to the diet. These findings suggest that a protein-rich breakfast might be an effective strategy to improve appetite control and prevent overeating in young people," added Leidy.

The study is detailed in Obesity.