E Siong Tee1, Abdul Razak Nurliyana2, A Karim Norimah3, Hamid Jan B Jan Mohamed4, Sue Yee Tan5, Mahenderan Appukutty6, Sinead Hopkins7, Frank Thielecke7,8, Moi Kim Ong9, Celia Ning9, Mohd Taib Mohd Nasir2. 1. Nutrition Society of Malaysia, c/o Division of Human Nutrition, Institute for Medical Research, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Email: president@nutriweb.org.my. 2. Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia. 3. Nutritional Science Programme, School of Healthcare Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. 4. Nutrition and Dietetics Programme, School of Health Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kelantan, Malaysia. 5. Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, School of Health Sciences, International Medical University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. 6. Sports Science Programme, Faculty of Sports Science and Recreation, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Selangor, Malaysia. 7. Cereal Partners Worldwide, Lausanne, Switzerland. 8. Thielecke consulting, Allschwil, Switzerland. 9. Nestlé R&D Centre, Singapore.
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to determine the relationship between breakfast consumption and body weight status among primary and secondary school children in Malaysia. METHODS AND STUDY DESIGN: This nationwide cross-sectional study involved 5,332 primary school children aged 6 to 12 years and 3,000 secondary school children aged 13 to 17 years. Height and weight were measured and BMI-for-age was determined. Socio-demographic backgrounds, breakfast habits and physical activity levels were assessed using questionnaires. Breakfast frequency was defined as follows: breakfast skippers (ate breakfast 0-2 days/week), irregular breakfast eaters (ate breakfast 3-4 days/week) and regular breakfast eaters (ate breakfast ≥5 days/week). RESULTS: The overall prevalence of breakfast skippers and irregular breakfast eaters was 11.7% and 12.7% respectively. Breakfast skipping was related to age, sex, ethnicity, income and physical activity level. Among primary school boys and secondary school girls, the proportion of overweight/obesity was higher among breakfast skippers (boys: 43.9%, girls: 30.5%) than regular breakfast eaters (boys: 31.2%, girls: 22.7%). Among primary school children, only boys who skipped breakfast had a higher mean BMI-for-age z-score than regular breakfast eaters. Among secondary school boys and girls, BMI-for-age z-score was higher among breakfast skippers than regular breakfast eaters. Compared to regular breakfast eaters, primary school boys who skipped breakfast were 1.71 times (95% CI=1.26-2.32, p=0.001) more likely to be overweight/obese, while the risk was lower in primary school girls (OR=1.36, 95% CI=1.02-1.81, p=0.039) and secondary school girls (OR=1.38, 95% CI=1.01-1.90, p=0.044). CONCLUSION: Regular breakfast consumption was associated with a healthier body weight status and is a dietary behaviour which should be encouraged.
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to determine the relationship between breakfast consumption and body weight status among primary and secondary school children in Malaysia. METHODS AND STUDY DESIGN: This nationwide cross-sectional study involved 5,332 primary school children aged 6 to 12 years and 3,000 secondary school children aged 13 to 17 years. Height and weight were measured and BMI-for-age was determined. Socio-demographic backgrounds, breakfast habits and physical activity levels were assessed using questionnaires. Breakfast frequency was defined as follows: breakfast skippers (ate breakfast 0-2 days/week), irregular breakfast eaters (ate breakfast 3-4 days/week) and regular breakfast eaters (ate breakfast ≥5 days/week). RESULTS: The overall prevalence of breakfast skippers and irregular breakfast eaters was 11.7% and 12.7% respectively. Breakfast skipping was related to age, sex, ethnicity, income and physical activity level. Among primary school boys and secondary school girls, the proportion of overweight/obesity was higher among breakfast skippers (boys: 43.9%, girls: 30.5%) than regular breakfast eaters (boys: 31.2%, girls: 22.7%). Among primary school children, only boys who skipped breakfast had a higher mean BMI-for-age z-score than regular breakfast eaters. Among secondary school boys and girls, BMI-for-age z-score was higher among breakfast skippers than regular breakfast eaters. Compared to regular breakfast eaters, primary school boys who skipped breakfast were 1.71 times (95% CI=1.26-2.32, p=0.001) more likely to be overweight/obese, while the risk was lower in primary school girls (OR=1.36, 95% CI=1.02-1.81, p=0.039) and secondary school girls (OR=1.38, 95% CI=1.01-1.90, p=0.044). CONCLUSION: Regular breakfast consumption was associated with a healthier body weight status and is a dietary behaviour which should be encouraged.
Authors: Matthew R Jeans; Fiona M Asigbee; Matthew J Landry; Sarvenaz Vandyousefi; Reem Ghaddar; Heather J Leidy; Jaimie N Davis Journal: Nutrients Date: 2020-07-09 Impact factor: 5.717