The results of these two phases of data collection thus give a slightly different picture, but
should be seen as cumulative rather than contradictory. That 27% of those who initially were
skippers but in the follow-up survey a year later indicated that they always or almost always ate breakfast suggests an element of flux. One female said: "I used not to eat breakfast but now I do. I
thought I could lose weight, but had a talk with Mum and now realize that it is better to eat
breakfast." Clearly, further longitudinal research is needed to reveal how habits are established,
their endurance, and how change occurs.