Original Article
Obesity Research (2002) 10, 78–82; doi: 10.1038/oby.2002.13
Long-Term Weight Loss and Breakfast in Subjects in the National Weight Control Registry
Holly R. Wyatt*, Gary K. Grunwald*, Cecilia L. Mosca*, Mary L. Klem†, Rena R. Wing‡ and James O. Hill*
- *University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver, Colorado
- †University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- ‡Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island
Correspondence: Dr. Holly R. Wyatt, 4200 East 9th Avenue, Campus Box C225, Denver, CO 80262. E-mail: holly.wyatt@uchsc.edu
Received 28 June 2001; Accepted 26 November 2001.
Abstract
Objective: To examine breakfast consumption in subjects maintaining a weight loss in the National Weight Control Registry (NWCR).
Research Methods and Procedures: A cross-sectional study in which 2959 subjects in the NWCR completed demographic and weight history questionnaires as well as questions about their current breakfast consumption. All subjects had maintained a weight loss of at least 13.6 kg (30 lb) for at least 1 year; on average these subjects had lost 32 kg and kept it off for 6 years.
Results: A large proportion of NWCR subjects (2313 or 78%) reported regularly eating breakfast every day of the week. Only 114 subjects (4%) reported never eating breakfast. There was no difference in reported energy intake between breakfast eaters and non-eaters, but breakfast eaters reported slightly more physical activity than non-breakfast eaters (p = 0.05).
Discussion: Eating breakfast is a characteristic common to successful weight loss maintainers and may be a factor in their success.
Keywords:
breakfast, eating behavior, reduced-obese, weight maintenance, National Weight Control Registry
