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A new study published in the March issue of the journal Steroids reveal that dieters have less hunger and cravings throughout the day and are better able to keep off lost weight if they eat a carbohydrate-rich, protein-packed breakfast that includes dessert.

"The goal of a weight loss diet should be not only weight reduction but also reduction of hunger and cravings, thus helping prevent weight regain," said Daniela Jakubowicz, the study's principal investigator, in a news release.

With the dessert with breakfast diet, the levels of ghrelin, the hunger hormone, dropped 45.2 percent after breakfast compared to the 29.5 percent drop in the low-carb group.

Researchers studied almost 200 non-diabetic obese adults who were randomly assigned to eat one of two low-calorie diets for eight months. Both diets had the same number of daily calories-about 1,600 for men and 1,400 for women-but differed mainly in the composition of breakfast.

One group received a low-carb diet that had a 304-calorie breakfast with only 10 grams of carbs. The other group ate a 600-calorie breakfast with 60 grams of carbs, which included a small sweet, such as chocolate, a doughnut, a cookie or cake. Both diets contained protein, such as tuna, egg whites, cheese and low-fat milk, at breakfast, but the "dessert with breakfast diet" had 45 grams of protein, 15 grams more than in the low-carb diet.

Halfway through study, participants in both groups lost an average of 33 pounds per person, which according to Jakubowicz, an indication that "both diets work the same."

However, the study revealed in the last four months of the study, the low-carb group regained an average of 22 pounds per person, while participants who ate the dessert with breakfast diet lost another 15 pounds each.

The participants who ate the dessert with breakfast diet reported feeling less hunger and fewer cravings compared with the other group. Their food diaries showed that the dessert with breakfast group had better compliance in sticking to their calorie requirements. Women who ate the dessert with breakfast diet were allowed 500 calories for lunch and about 300 calories for dinner. Men in that group could eat a 600-calorie lunch and up to 464 calories at dinner.

According to Jakubowicz, the dessert with breakfast diet's high protein content reduced hunger and the combination of protein and carbs increased satisfaction. The dessert decreased cravings for sweet, starchy and fatty foods. Such cravings often occur when a diet restricts sweets and can result in eating many fattening foods that are not allowed on the diet, she said.