Becoming a parent 'good for your health', new research shows Parenthood makes you more likely to eat breakfast, a study shows. BECOMING a parent means you are more likely to eat breakfast, according to new research. Dr Kylie Smith, a researcher from the Menzies Research Institute Tasmania, conducted a five-year study into the risk factors for heart disease. In Adelaide this week to present her findings at the Heart Foundation Conference, Dr Smith said research showed people who skipped breakfast, both as children and as adults, had higher risk factors for heart disease. "We think parents don't skip breakfast because they're making breakfast for their children so they eat themselves, or because they have children they have more of a routine," she said. Individuals who had their first child during the five-year study were more likely to eat breakfast than those who remained childless. Men who skipped breakfast at both the beginning and end of the study gained about 3kg more weight over five years than those who ate breakfast at both times. Dr Smith said eating breakfast was important because it provided a good opportunity to choose healthy options such as fruit, low-fat dairy and whole grain cereal. "However, about 23 per cent of adults and 10 per cent of children skip breakfast, so miss out on this nutritional advantage," she said. Dr Smith is currently conducting further reseach into the rising rates of obesity, looking at breakfast eating habits amongst children. Funded by the Heart Foundation, it's hoped the study will help establish healthier eating habits early in life and delay the onset of cardiovascular risk factors.