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Experts say a breakfast rich in protein such as bacon, sausages, beans and eggs boosts levels of a chemical in the brain which regulates foot intake and cravings, the Daily Mail reports, citing a new research.

But people who skip breakfast have lower levels of the chemical, which can lead to overeating and weight gain.

A study by U.S. researchers found teenagers who skipped breakfast were prone to obesity.

But those who ate a protein-rich breakfast were found to have less food cravings and were less likely to overeat later in the day.

They said eating breakfast, particularly a high-protein one, increases levels of the brain chemical dopamine, the 'feel-good' messenger which is associated with feelings of reward.

Understanding the brain chemical and its role in food cravings could lead to improvements in obesity prevention and treatment, they added.

The study's leader, Professor Heather Leidy, of the University of Missouri-Columbia, said: 'Our research showed people experience a dramatic decline in cravings for sweet foods when they eat breakfast.

'However, breakfasts that are high in protein also reduced cravings for savoury - or high-fat - foods.

'On the other hand, if breakfast is skipped, these cravings continue to rise throughout the day.'

Professor Leidy studied the effects of different breakfasts on participants' levels of dopamine, which moderates impulses and reward, including food cravings.

Eating initiates a release of dopamine, which stimulates feelings of reward.

The reward response is an important part of eating because it helps to regulate how much food the person eats, researchers said.