Impact of Breakfast Skipping and Breakfast Choice on the Nutrient Intake and Body Mass Index of Australian Children

Abstract

Recent data on breakfast consumption among Australian children are limited. This study examined the impact of breakfast skipping and breakfast type (cereal or non-cereal) on nutrient intakes, likelihood of meeting nutrient targets and anthropometric measures. A secondary analysis of two 24-h recall data from the 2007 Australian National Children’s Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey was conducted (2–16 years; n = 4487) to identify (a) breakfast skippers and (b) breakfast consumers, with breakfast consumers further sub-divided into (i) non-cereal and (ii) cereal consumers. Only 4% skipped breakfast and 59% of skippers were 14–16 years. Breakfast consumers had significantly higher intakes of calcium and folate, and significantly lower intakes of total fat than breakfast skippers. Cereal consumers were more likely to meet targets and consume significantly higher fibre, calcium, iron, had significantly higher intakes of folate, total sugars and carbohydrate, and significantly lower intakes of total fat and sodium than non-cereal consumers. The prevalence of overweight was lower among breakfast consumers compared to skippers, and among cereal consumers compared to-cereal consumers (p < 0.001), while no significant differences were observed for mean body mass index (BMI), BMI z-score, waist circumference and physical activity level across the categories. Breakfast and particularly breakfast cereal consumption contributes important nutrients to children’s diets.

Ethiopian Orthodox Fasting and Lactating Mothers: Longitudinal Study on Dietary Pattern and Nutritional Status in Rural Tigray, Ethiopia

“…In the present study, prevalence of overweight was between 1.1% and 3.8%, respectively, which was relatively comparable with the Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey (EDHS) 2011 report (2.9%) in Tigray, and elsewhere (1.3–1.8%) in the region [5,24,38], but lower than the EDHS (2016) report at national level (6%) and Tigray region (4.9%). In urban women, it was reported (6.2–25.3%) in Ethiopia, Bengal district in India (5.4%), and Nepal (6.3–24.8%) [44,47,48,49,50,51,52].…”

Determinants of post‐migration changes in dietary and physical activity behaviours and implications for health promotion: Evidence from Australian residents of sub‐Saharan African ancestry

“…Though some positive dietary behaviours (eg, adoption of new fruits and vegetables in Australia) were reported by participants, most of the newly acquired behaviours put them at risks of excess weight gain and weight-related diseases. [36][37][38] For instance, skipping breakfast, snacking between meals and late eating can impact negatively on participants' health, as studies have identified an association between such behaviours and weight-related problems. [36][37][38] Increase in the consumption of fast foods and regular eating out-of-home could also be a risk factor for weight gain and related NCDs.…”

“…[36][37][38] For instance, skipping breakfast, snacking between meals and late eating can impact negatively on participants' health, as studies have identified an association between such behaviours and weight-related problems. [36][37][38] Increase in the consumption of fast foods and regular eating out-of-home could also be a risk factor for weight gain and related NCDs. 39 Replacement of organic foods by genetically modified foods may also result in poor health in the long term.…”

Skipping breakfast among Australian children and adolescents; findings from the 2011–12 National Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey

“…Another paper using the 2007 survey data reported 4% of Australian children and adolescents skipped breakfast on both days the 24-hour recalls were collected. 10 However, the prevalence of skipping was not stratified by age and those who skipped on one of the two days were classified as breakfast consumers. Prior to the 2007 survey, the most recent published national Australian data on skipping breakfast were from the 1995 National Nutrition Survey.…”

“…14,16,18 Skipping breakfast has also been reported to cluster with other unhealthy behaviours including smoking, lower levels of physical activity and poorer diet quality. 1,10,14 It is important to examine whether these factors are associated with skipping breakfast in a contemporary cohort of Australian children and adolescents so that interventions to reduce breakfast skipping can be better targeted.…”