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It also triggers higher insulin levels in the blood, a warning sign that diabetes could soon set in. The study showed the greatest risks are among adults who regularly went without breakfast when they were children and carried on the habit when they grew up.
The results show that, by the time they are in their late twenties, those who rarely have breakfast as children or adults are already on the way to developing heart disease. Scientists think one reason is they are more likely to snack on sugary foods and less likely to exercise while having a lower intake of fiber, vitamins and minerals.
It can also leave people less likely to eat at typical mealtimes, said researchers at the University of Tasmania, who tracked 2,184 volunteers over 20 years. Leading dietician Catherine Collins said missing breakfast was a ''marker'' for an unhealthy or chaotic lifestyle. The result has been published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.