by KYW's medical editor Dr. Brian McDonough

The start of school is just around the corner. And, as you are buying backpacks, pencils and books, stock up on some good breakfast food.
 
According to a report in the journal Pediatrics, adolescents and young adults may be less attentive in school when they skip breakfast. There is additional information that is also quite interesting. The effect may be different in boys and girls. In the study, boys reported being in a worse mood when they went without breakfast. In addition, their visual spatial memory was affected. However, when girls skipped breakfast there was not as dramatic an effect on mood or the visual spatial changes.
 
It was also found that eating breakfast had no effect on students' ability to sustain attention, but all of the students reported feeling more alert after eating breakfast.
 
Why is breakfast important?  It could give people the energy and nutrients they need to produce brain signaling chemicals known as neurotransmitters. It is also possible that the protein, carbohydrate and fat composition of the meal might also affect mood.