The association between consumption of breakfast cereals and BMI in schoolchildren aged 12–17 years: The VYRONAS study

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate whether consumption of breakfast cereals is associated with BMI in a sample of Greek adolescents. Design: A cross-sectional health and nutrition survey. Setting and subjects: During 2004-5, 2008 schoolchildren aged 12-17 years were selected from twelve schools located in Vyronas region (Athens metropolitan area). Height and weight were measured and BMI was calculated. A semiquantitative FFQ was applied and multiple logistic regression analysis was used. Results: Overall, 4?7 % of boys and 1?7 % of girls were obese, whereas 19?4 % of boys and 13?2 % of girls were overweight. Only 20?7 % of boys and 15?5 % of girls reported that they consume cereals as a first choice for breakfast. Consumption of breakfast cereals was associated with lower BMI in boys (P 5 0?08) and girls (P 5 0?019), irrespective of age and physical activity status. More prominent results were observed for daily cereal consumption or for more than two daily servings of cereals consumed for breakfast. Consumption of pre-sweetened breakfast cereals was associated with lower BMI compared with non-pre-sweetened or no intake of cereals, in both genders (P , 0?001). Consumption of breakfast cereals was associated with 33 % (95 % CI 14 %, 48 %) lower likelihood of overweight/obesity, irrespective of age, sex and physical activity status. Conclusions: Consumption of breakfast cereals was associated with lower BMI levels and a lower likelihood of overweight/obesity in both genders; thus a solid basis for public health professionals could be built when issuing advice on weight management.

Evaluation of a nutrition intervention in adolescents of an urban area in Greece: short- and long-term effects of the VYRONAS study

“…The data were collected during the VYRONAS (Vyronas Youth Regarding Obesity, Nutrition and Attitudinal Styles) study (18)(19)(20)(21)(22) , which was carried out by the Health Centre of Vyronas in collaboration with the Department of Nutrition Science and Dietetics of Harokopio University of Athens and the Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology of the University of Athens Medical School.…”

Ready-to-eat cereals and the burden of obesity in the context of their nutritional contribution: are all ready-to-eat cereals equally healthy? A systematic review

“…Since fortified breakfast cereals are consumed with milk it is not possible to separate the dietary effects of the two foods. Those who have a high intake of breakfast cereal almost certainly consume high milk levels (14,22,37) too. Specifically, in the frame of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Growth Health Study, in a sample of 2379 adolescent girls, Albertson et al (37) tried to examine three possible explanations for the documented association between cereal consumption and positive health outcomes.…”

What is our work worth?

“…As one priority, John Waterlow has asked us to pay more attention to undernutrition (2) , as we will (3) . Another priority is papers that themselves include evaluation of work done.…”