Does Higher Protein Quality Breakfast Reduce Energy Intake When Following a Weight Loss Diet Plan?

There will be 2 experiments in this pilot study. Both will be randomized crossover study designs with subjects beginning on either an egg breakfast of higher protein quality or cereal breakfast of lower protein quality, and reversing to receive the breakfast not previously ingested. The subjects will consume breakfasts under supervision at our clinic on all days of the study, except for weekends. Subjects will be advised to continue eating their breakfast at home on weekends. All subjects will receive weight loss counseling and follow a weight loss diet for 2 weeks. Experiment 1 will test the hypothesis that when on a reduced calorie diet, intake of an egg breakfast compared to cereal breakfast increases satiety, reduces lunch time energy consumption and reduces dinner time energy consumption in clinical and free living condition. Insulin, glucagon-like peptide-1, peptide YY 3-36, ghrelin, plasma glucose, baseline and post intervention anthropomorphic measurements, and hunger questionnaires completed during the consumption of both breakfasts and subsequent meals will be compared. Experiment 2 will compare the effects of the two breakfasts on intake of foods considered tempting or highly palatable, and assessment of energy intake pre/post test lunch followed by offering brownies. It is hypothesized that consumption of an egg breakfast compared to cereal breakfast, will help in reducing intake of foods considered tempting.