nosh magazine
BREAKFAST CEREALS
AND BODY WEIGHT
Leigh Reeve from the Australian Breakfast Cereal Manufacturers Forum (ABCMF)
has released the following information about breakfast cereals and body weight.
regular breakfast cereal habit could
be the key to achieving a healthy
body weight, with research supporting its
association with:
A
• lower body mass index (BMI) and
reduced risk of overweight and obesity,
• improved satiety
• more nutritious diets.
Lower BMI and reduced risk
of overweight and obesity
A large number of cross-sectional studies
have consistently demonstrated that
regular breakfast cereal consumption is
associated with lower measures of
overweight or obesity, compared to
skipping breakfast or eating other breakfast
foods. In summary:
• Regular breakfast cereal consumption is
associated with a lower BMI and a
Improved satiety
no difference in their risk of overweight
and obesity whether they consume
pre-sweetened breakfast cereal or other
breakfast cereals1 ..
• There is no difference in overall daily
energy intake or total sugars intake
whether children or adolescents
consume pre-sweetened breakfast
cereals or other breakfast cereals1.
• There is no relationship between the
total sugars content and energy density
of Australian breakfast cereals7.
Research shows regular consumption of
high-fibre breakfast cereals is associated
with improved satiety:
Nutrient dense and low in
kilojoules
reduced risk of being overweight or
obese in both adults and children1 .
• Eating breakfast cereal as a snack or
meal replacement can assist in weight
loss in adults1.
• Children and adults who eat breakfast
cereal regularly have lower BMIs2-4.
• Eating breakfast, especially breakfast
cereal (compared to other breakfasts), is
associated with lower BMI.5
• Eating high-fibre breakfast cereals
improves satiety and reduces hunger
after a meal1.
• Eating breakfast cereal high in insoluble
fibre (like those with wheat bran) may
result in less kilojoules consumed at
breakfast and lunch, possibly due to the
high satiety value6.
Pre-sweetened versus
minimally sweetened
breakfast cereals
The relationship between pre-sweetened
breakfast cereals and body weight has
consistently demonstrated that:
• Children who eat breakfast cereal have
• Regular consumption of breakfast
cereals is associated with diets that are
higher in vitamins and minerals for
adults, adolescents and children1.
• The 2011-12 Australian Health Survey
confirms that breakfast cereals are
nutrient dense foods. Together
ready-to-eat and hot porridge styles
provide 10.6 per cent of fibre intakes per
capita for Australians two years and
over, while contributing very little
towards kilojoules (energy 4.6 per cent),
total sugars (3.4 per cent) and sodium
(around 2 per cent) intakes8.
Additionally, breakfast cereals
contribute significant levels of iron (17.6
per cent), thiamin (18.7 per cent), folate
(13 per cent) and riboflavin (12.6 per
cent) per capita for Australians aged
two years and over8.
• An average 40g serve of breakfast cereal
contains between 610kJ to 670kJ, a
modest amount of kilojoules for such a
nutrient dense breakfast choice9. N
Click here for the references to this article.
LEIGH REEVE, AdvAPD AT CEREAL4BREKKIE
Learn more at: website | profile
Leigh Reeve is an Advanced Accredited Practising Dietitian and Director of the Australian Breakfast Cereal Manufacturers Forum (ABCMF), home to
cereal4brekkie.The ABCMF provides evidence-based, practical information so Australians can have a better understanding of the true value of breakfast
cereals and breakfast as part of a healthy lifestyle.
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