Skipping breakfast to lose weight is never a good idea, but for teens, doing so can increase their odds of becoming obese.
A University of Minnesota study compared breakfast frequency and increases in Body Mass Index (BMI) among 2,216 adolescent boys and girls over five years. Those who claimed to "never" eat breakfast gained 40 percent more weight than daily breakfast eaters, and sporadic breakfasters gained 25 percent more weight.
Researchers say teens who regularly eat in the morning boost their metabolisms. Healthy breakfasts — with fruit and whole grains, for example — can satisfy nutrient requirements.
Bananas are a wealth of nutrients — supplying fiber, potassium, Vitamin B6 and resistant starch (which enhances fat-burning metabolism). But big, fatty breakfasts can trigger the release of inflammatory chemicals, which can damage teens' arteries and render their circulatory systems comparable to someone three decades older.