Effects of Skipping Breakfast based on the Frequency of Skipping Breakfast of Middle School Students in Sangju, Gyeongbuk Province

Abstract

This paper examined the frequency of skipping breakfast by middle school students for one week. It carried out the study in order to understand the ways skipping breakfast effected other habits. The subjects were 467 middle school students (219 boys, 248 girls). The results of the survey were as follows; average male students were 171.16 ±5.9cm, 61.45±10.0kg, and 20.93±2.9 in height, weight and body mass index, while the average female students were 159.27±6.0cm, 51.62±7.9kg and 20.33±2.8. As for the reasons for skipping breakfast, 58.0% of the subjects responded that they had no time. The frequency of skipping breakfast was divided into the eating group (0~1 time) and the skipping breakfast group (2~3times/week, 4~5 times/week, or 6~7 times/week). As the frequency of skipping breakfast increased, so the rate of the subjects eating alone was higher and eating with family lower(p<.05). The dietary behavior change stage was divided into contemplation stage, preparation stage, action stage, and maintenance stage. The eating group(59.2%) was higher than the skipping breakfast group(29.1%~46.3%) in the rate of subjects maintenance stage(p<.01). Accordingly, skipping breakfast was closely connected with eating habits in their families. A dietitian needs to teach the importance of meals and life habits, so as to enhance public awareness of health and nutrition to the students. Subjects of nutrition education must even enlarge their parents as well as the students.