Trends in breakfast consumption for children in the United States from 1965-1991

Abstract

We examined breakfast consumption patterns and trends between 1965 and 1991 for children (1-10 y old) and adolescents (11-18 y old) in the United States. The analysis was undertaken by pooling nationally representative samples obtained from the Nationwide Food Consumption Surveys of 1965 and 1977-1978 and the 1989-1991 Continuing Survey of Food Intakes by Individuals. Breakfast consumption, defined as the consumption of food, beverage, or both between 0500 and 1000, was the focus of the trends analysis. Descriptive results indicated a decline in breakfast consumption between 1965 and 1991, particularly for older adolescents aged 15-18 y; the rates for boys and girls declined from 89.7% and 84.4%, respectively, in 1965 to 74.9% and 64.7%, respectively, in 1991. Multivariate results indicated that breakfast consumption declined predominantly because of behavioral changes and not the population's changing sociodemographic patterns. The nutritional quality of foods consumed at breakfast has improved since 1965, with significant shifts toward consumption of lower-fat milk and smaller changes in other food groups. The improvement over time in the quality of food consumed at breakfast, however, is offset by the large percentage of persons aged > or = 11 y who do not presently consume breakfast. Given the association of obesity with less frequent breakfast consumption and the rise in obesity among persons of this age group, a renewed emphasis on the importance of breakfast is warranted.

Breakfast skipping and its relation to BMI and health-compromising behaviours among Greek adolescents

“…This finding is consistent with other studies in which breakfast skipping in adolescents has also been associated with various health-compromising behaviours and unhealthy lifestyles (20)(21)(22)(23) . Other studies have also shown that breakfast skippers, even after controlling for age, gender and BMI, have significantly higher total cholesterol levels than breakfast consumers.…”

Quality of Life and Health Outcomes in Overweight and Non-Overweight Children With Asthma

“…An analysis of national food consumption surveys from 1965-1991, found a decline in breakfast consumption over the 25 years especially among adolescents, 74.9% to 64.7% (Siega-Riz, Popkin, & Carson, 1998). This decline is worrisome because studies have found a possible positive role for breakfast consumption in maintaining normal weight in children and adolescents (Rampersaud, Pereira, Girard, Adams, & Metzel, 2005).…”

Breakfast consumption and daily physical activity in 9–10-year-old British children

“…Missing breakfast has also been associated with decreases in attention, memory and school performance (5,6) , all important factors in children's development. In addition, there are indications that breakfast patterns are linked to overweight and obesity (7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12) . It is of concern that a decline in breakfast consumption has been observed in recent years.…”