Valérie Fernandez

By Valérie Fernandez

February 12, 2014


True or False? Eating a Big Breakfast Won’t Make You Gain Weight.

Article revised on 19 June 2017


“It doesn’t matter if I overeat at breakfast time – I’ll burn off any extra calories during the day.”

You have probably already heard someone say that. Maybe you’ve even said it yourself.  Sorry, that’s a myth!

Yes, the calories you consume in the morning are important, as they give your body needed fuel. However, that doesn’t mean that you can eat just anything.

Feeding the myth

Previous studies demonstrated that people who never skipped breakfast tended to weigh less than those who never or rarely ate breakfast.

This does not mean that all calories ingested at breakfast time will disappear magically during the day, contributing to the maintenance of healthy weight or even weight loss.

Rather, it means that a healthy breakfast will help curb mid-morning cravings and prevent potentially unwise snacking. Therefore, you won’t be starving when you sit down to lunch, and you’ll eat a more reasonable portion.

Don’t forget!

Diet is a matter of mathematical balance. When we consume more calories than we burn, we gain weight. It doesn’t matter what time of day we eat. When we burn the calories we consume, we maintain a healthy weight or lose excess weight.

Healthy breakfast

The key is still to eat a healthy, balanced breakfast and to consume reasonable size portions. Be mindful of feelings of hunger or fullness. A complete breakfast consists of carbohydrates and protein to provide energy to your muscles and brain and satisfy you until the next meal, without cravings!



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