Rapid responses are electronic comments to the editor. They enable our users
to debate issues raised in articles published on bmj.com. A rapid response
is first posted online. If you need the URL (web address) of an individual
response, simply click on the response headline and copy the URL from the
browser window. A proportion of responses will, after editing, be published
online and in the print journal as letters, which are indexed in PubMed.
Rapid responses are not indexed in PubMed and they are not journal articles.
The BMJ reserves the right to remove responses which are being
wilfully misrepresented as published articles or when it is brought to our
attention that a response spreads misinformation.
From March 2022, the word limit for rapid responses will be 600 words not
including references and author details. We will no longer post responses
that exceed this limit.
The word limit for letters selected from posted responses remains 300 words.
It is true that high quality evidence in the matter is lacking, but some points demand consideration.
Is it a true 'break fast' 10 to 12 hours after the evening supper or is it a belly filling 6 to 8 hours after a late night dinner? Simple physiology will determine the influence and benefits of the act. Skipping it can be risky if physical action and work is to follow and clearly dangerous if the person is diabetic. 250-300 calories is needed for light to moderate activity and 500 calories for moderate to heavy physical action, as well as being rich in carbohydrates. In India, whether preparation is fresh and warm/hot matters more than the diversity of items. Obviously breakfast consumed in a relaxed way would be better than one gulped down in a hurry worrying about the day, and this may partly determine whether it would help to lose or steady body weight.
Breakfast has been conventionally insisted upon by doctors before they enter opds, wards, ots to prevent episodes of giddiness/hypoglycemia. The clinical nutrition component of breakfast does require more study than the 'diet' part of it.
Dr Murar E Yeolekar, Mumbai.
Competing interests:
No competing interests
01 February 2019
Murar E Yeolekar
Professor & Head , Dept. of Internal Medicine
K J Somaiya Medical College and Hospital, Sion, Mumbai 400 022.
Re: Unscrambling the evidence for breakfast
It is true that high quality evidence in the matter is lacking, but some points demand consideration.
Is it a true 'break fast' 10 to 12 hours after the evening supper or is it a belly filling 6 to 8 hours after a late night dinner? Simple physiology will determine the influence and benefits of the act. Skipping it can be risky if physical action and work is to follow and clearly dangerous if the person is diabetic. 250-300 calories is needed for light to moderate activity and 500 calories for moderate to heavy physical action, as well as being rich in carbohydrates. In India, whether preparation is fresh and warm/hot matters more than the diversity of items. Obviously breakfast consumed in a relaxed way would be better than one gulped down in a hurry worrying about the day, and this may partly determine whether it would help to lose or steady body weight.
Breakfast has been conventionally insisted upon by doctors before they enter opds, wards, ots to prevent episodes of giddiness/hypoglycemia. The clinical nutrition component of breakfast does require more study than the 'diet' part of it.
Dr Murar E Yeolekar, Mumbai.
Competing interests: No competing interests