Unhealthy breakfast habits have been revealed as new research finds that Gen Z is the most likely to skip breakfast. 40% of 18 to 27-year-olds ditch the most important meal of the day. Meanwhile, Gen Zs who eat breakfast are also opting for processed, high-calorie food, admitting to eating sugary cereals, while 18% only have coffee or tea for breakfast.
Dr Kathryn Basford at online doctor ZAVA UK said: "As the most important meal of the day, eating breakfast helps to restore energy and keep blood sugar levels steady for appetite control. Although skipping breakfast is a common habit among those seeking to lose weight, missing meals can be counterintuitive as your metabolism slows down to conserve energy, causing fewer calories to be burned throughout the day and less weight to be lost. "Ditching your morning meal can also increase cravings for unhealthy, high-calorie foods, causing almost a quarter of ‘breakfast skippers’ to snack more or feel hungrier throughout the day, and reversing weight loss efforts.
" Only 19% of us look at the nutritional value of cereal before purchasing. Cereals high in sugar can cause blood sugar spikes and energy dips later in the day, leading to snacking. Dr Basford said: "If you want to lose weight, you don’t have to ditch the cereal but make sure to choose one that’s low in sugar and high in fibre, and add protein, such as Greek yogurt, nuts or seeds, to keep yourself satisfied for longer.
"A healthy, balanced breakfast helps to control .