Does a big breakfast improve our daily performance?

This question has been the subject of extensive research all around the world, from schoolchildren in Africa to athletes in the United States of America. There is huge interest in the effects of breakfast on several types of performance, including cognitive function (eg learning, mood, concentration and performance in exams, etc) and physical function (eg performance of athletes, weight loss and cholesterol levels, etc). Despite positive reviews in the mass media, current research shows a mixed picture with a lack of compelling evidence either way. There are strong associations between having breakfast (versus skipping it) and better performance, although these studies are not causative. This means that breakfast and performance cannot be directly linked as cause and effect; there are a whole host of other factors which affect how we function.

Answered by Aneel Bhangu.