The Effect of Breakfast Size Prior to Morning Exercise on Cognition, Mood and Appetite in Habitually Active Women

The Effect of Breakfast Size Prior to Morning Exercise on Cognition, Mood and Appetite Later in the Day in Habitually Active Women

Both regular exercise and breakfast consumption have well known health benefits. Consuming breakfast prior to morning exercise may influence appetite, mood and cognitive function later in the day. The purpose of this study is to test whether the amount of food consumed at breakfast prior to exercise influences these parameters in active women.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Must be habitually active (exercising for least 30 minutes, 3 times per week for at least the previous 6 months)
• Must have a normal exercise routine includes a minimum of 1 morning exercise session (which takes place between 6am-11am) each week
• Must run on a regular basis (at least once per week) and be able to run at a moderate pace for 30 minutes non-stop on a treadmill
• Must consume breakfast on most days of the week, usually consume breakfast before undertaking a morning exercise session and be comfortable consuming a bowl of cereal 45mins before running

Exclusion Criteria:

• English not first language
• Smoking
• Previous or current eating disorders, metabolic disorders, gastric problems or any contraindications of exercise.
• Pregnancy
• The habitual use of some prescription or over the counter medications (excluding contraception) or herbal/dietary supplements (please ask the researcher)
• A history of or current learning difficulties, ADHD or dyslexia
• Daily use of an inhaler to control asthma
• Allergies or intolerances to any of the foods provided in the study (Special K cereal, semi-skimmed milk, pasta, tomato sauce, cheese, olive oil, rice, custard)