Dr. Scheele says: This is interesting. Overweight women who do not eat breakfast have a harder time managing carbs (sugar and carbs) at lunch showing longer time for elevated blood sugar to return to normal, which indicates insulin resistance. The way I interpret this finding is that after an overnight fast, it is especially important to eat breakfast, meaning protein to avoid the disappearance of positive charged proteins that may strengthen the subsequent carb challenge.

HHS HealthBeat (August 2, 2013)

Breakfast benefits

Take the Next Step Eat healthy (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services)

From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I’m Nicholas Garlow with HHS HealthBeat.

A study finds eating breakfast may have benefits for women.  The study examined the insulin and sugar levels of nine overweight and obese women after eating or not eating breakfast.

After eating a meal, the body releases insulin to manage sugar levels.  Choosing not to eat breakfast may cause the body to need more insulin to manage sugar levels, a condition known as insulin resistance.

Based on this study and others, it takes three hours following lunch for glucose and insulin levels to return to normal.

Elizabeth Thomas is a researcher at the University Of Colorado School Of Medicine.

“Breakfast skippers are more likely to be overweight or obese and have a higher risk for type 2 diabetes.”

The study presented at the Endocrine Society’s annual meeting was supported by the National Institutes of Health.

Learn more at healthfinder.gov.

HHS HealthBeat is production of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. I’m Nicholas Garlow.

Last revised: August 2, 2013