Everyone alive in the western world today has heard the mantra: Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. It’s said to “kick-start” the metabolism, and skipping it actually leads to increased overall caloric consumption, as those who abstain tend to “make up for it” later on. According to a study from University of Bath, literally none of that is true.

“It is certainly true that people who regularly eat breakfast tend to be slimmer and healthier but these individuals also typically follow most other recommendations for a healthy lifestyle, so have more balanced diets and take more physical exercise. Our randomised controlled trial allowed us to find out whether breakfast is a cause, an effect or simply a marker of good health,” said lead author Dr. James Betts.

The study, which spanned over 3 years, included an experiment where people between the ages of 21 and 60 were split into two groups: Those who “fasted” (ate nothing) until noon, and those who consumed at least 700 calories before 11:00 am, with half in that group eating within two hours of waking. The experiment lasted for six weeks.

Not only is the “overcompensation” effect not real, but Betts and his team found that overall, those who fasted consumed on average 20% fewer calories per day than those who indulged. The only finding that lends even a shred of credence to the “kick starter” theory is that those who eat breakfast are likely to expend more energy in the morning.

However, it’s not an endorsement to skip breakfast, either: In monitoring the fasting group’s glucose levels, they noted less tightly regulated glucose levels in the afternoon and evening hours. In other words, skipping breakfast may lead to spikes in blood sugar later in the day.

Moving forward, more research is needed to determine the effect of breakfast from a strictly weight loss focused angle, but current results don’t indicate much. The Daily Mail reports on a study from the University of Alabama where similar conditions were created; no one, not fasters or eaters, lost any significant weight in four months.