In a study of 150 people^1/, one half were put on a diet that had them eating a low fat white flour bagel for breakfast and the other half eat 2 eggs.  Over the course of 8 weeks, the egg eating group lost more weight than the bagel eaters even though both groups were restricting calories.

A similar decrease showed up in the body fat of the egg eaters.  Those eating eggs showed a 16% greater decrease than those eating bagels.

The assumed cause of the greater weight and body fat loss may have been greater satiety that you would get from eating eggs.  It does not look to be associated with increased protein consumption because the amount of protein in the eggs versus the bagel was deemed insignificant.  However, what was overlooked in the study’s speculation is that eating eggs would have kept insulin levels reduced while eating bagels made from white (refined) flour would have spiked insulin.  We know that insulin spikes can lead to greater fat storage.

If this was not enough good cause to start eating eggs for breakfast, consider the fact that although an egg contains 213 mg cholesterol (426 mg for 2 eggs), there was no increase in the cholesterol levels of the egg eaters.

So eat your eggs and have them with yolks if you like – you’ll still lose weight on your diet!

Notes:

1/ Int J Obes (Lond). 2008 Aug 5.