Two Breakfasts Are Better Than None For Children, Study Reveals

A new study released by the Pediatric Obesity reveals that children who eat two breakfasts are healthier than those who don't eat a breakfast.

Many public schools in the U.S. have been offering breakfast for those who come from low-income communities advocating that the free meal could greatly fight against the rising hunger epidemic in America.

However, it has been a concern that those who eat two breakfasts, one at home and another offered by the school, would cause health issues such as obesity. But a team of researchers have found that it more negatively impacts the child if they have not had a breakfast rather than two, supporting the claim that school breakfasts are beneficial.

"This study ... debunks an important misconception that school breakfast contributes to childhood obesity," says Duke Storen a representative from Share Our Strength, an organization that conducts anti-hunger and nutrition programs for children.

Additionally, Marlene Schwartz, who is part of the researchers that conducted the newly published study states that it especially helpful to low-income communities where there are many food insecure households.

"Our study does add to the argument that it's really important to make sure that as many kids as possible are getting a healthy breakfast," said Schwartz. "Especially in low-income communities, having universal access to healthy breakfasts is helpful."

There are a few reasons as to why it happens. One reason, Schwartz states, is because the breakfasts schools offer are actually "very healthy."

"It's not like these kids are eating two breakfasts of donuts," Schwartz said. "School breakfasts are very healthy. It's fruit and low-fat dairy and whole grains. So you could almost think of it as a healthy snack."

Another reason why this could be is that children who skip breakfast, are likely to overeat later that day or choose unhealthy options.

According to the Food Research and Action Center, on average just 54 children are eating school subsidized breakfasts out of every 100 children who are eating subsidized lunches.