Study Links Breakfast to Higher Life Satisfaction in Youth

A large-scale study involving nearly 150,000 children aged 10 to 17 from 42 countries has found a strong link between regular breakfast consumption and higher life satisfaction. Conducted by Anglia Ruskin University and Universidad de las Americas, the research indicates that daily breakfast eaters report the highest life satisfaction, while those who skip breakfast are significantly less happy. Notably, children in Portugal who ate breakfast daily had the highest satisfaction scores, whereas Romanian children who never had breakfast recorded the lowest, highlighting potential socio-economic influences. The study suggests that breakfast provides essential nutrients that enhance cognitive functions such as concentration and memory, which may contribute to overall happiness. Lee Smith, the senior author, emphasized that the routine of having breakfast could also establish a positive structure for the day. The findings underscore the importance of breakfast for both physical health and emotional well-being in children.