Bahar Azemati1,2, Ramin Heshmat1, Mostafa Qorbani3,4, Zeinab Ahadi1, Ali Azemati1, Gita Shafiee1,5, Hasan Ziaodini6, Mohammad Esmail Motlagh7, Roya Kelishadi8. 1. Chronic Diseases Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Population Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. 2. Center for Nutrition, Healthy Lifestyle and Disease Prevention, School of Public Health, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, USA. 3. Non-communicable Diseases Research Center, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Emam ali complex, Azimiyeh St, Karaj, Iran. mqorbani1379@yahoo.com. 4. Endocrinology and Metabolism Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Clinical Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. mqorbani1379@yahoo.com. 5. Endocrinology and Metabolism Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Clinical Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. 6. Health Psychology Department, Research Center of Education Ministry Studies, Tehran, Iran. 7. Office of Adolescents and School Health, Ministry of Health and Medical Education, Tehran, Iran. 8. Department of Pediatrics, Child Growth and Development Research Center, Research Institute for Primordial Prevention of Non-communicable Disease, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Hezar Jarib Ave, Azadi Squre, Isfahan, 73461-81746, Iran. kelishadi@med.mui.ac.ir.
Abstract
PURPOSE: Few studies have assessed the relationship between meal skipping with subjective health complaints in children and adolescents. The aim of our study was to determine the association between meal skipping and subjective health complaints in this population. METHODS: A total of 14,400 students aged 7-18 years were selected using multistage stratified cluster sampling method from 30 provinces of Iran. Data were collected as a part of the fifth national school-based surveillance program (CASPIAN-V) in Iran. Information about students' lifestyle, health behaviours, health status and health complaints were gathered through a validated questionnaire. RESULTS: The mean (standard deviation) age of participants was 12.3 (3.2) years old. Breakfast skipping was associated with increased odds of stomachache (OR 1.77, 95% CI 1.56, 2.00), backache (OR 1.68, 95% CI 1.46, 1.92), difficulty in getting to sleep (OR 1.66, 95% CI 1.48, 1.86), feeling nervous (OR 1.59, 95% CI 1.43, 1.76) and irritability (OR 1.29, 95% CI 1.02, 1.25). There were 27, 63, 58 and 107% increase in odds of headache, stomachache, backache and difficulty in getting to sleep by lunch skipping, respectively. While dinner skipping was related to 39, 59 and 52% increase in odds of headache, feeling low and difficulty in getting to sleep, respectively, it was associated with decreased odds of stomachache (OR 0.33, 95% CI 0.25, 0.44). CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that meal skipping is associated with some somatic and psychological health complaints among children; therefore, regular meal consumption, at least three times a day, is highly recommended in this population. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: V, cross-sectional descriptive study.
PURPOSE: Few studies have assessed the relationship between meal skipping with subjective health complaints in children and adolescents. The aim of our study was to determine the association between meal skipping and subjective health complaints in this population. METHODS: A total of 14,400 students aged 7-18 years were selected using multistage stratified cluster sampling method from 30 provinces of Iran. Data were collected as a part of the fifth national school-based surveillance program (CASPIAN-V) in Iran. Information about students' lifestyle, health behaviours, health status and health complaints were gathered through a validated questionnaire. RESULTS: The mean (standard deviation) age of participants was 12.3 (3.2) years old. Breakfast skipping was associated with increased odds of stomachache (OR 1.77, 95% CI 1.56, 2.00), backache (OR 1.68, 95% CI 1.46, 1.92), difficulty in getting to sleep (OR 1.66, 95% CI 1.48, 1.86), feeling nervous (OR 1.59, 95% CI 1.43, 1.76) and irritability (OR 1.29, 95% CI 1.02, 1.25). There were 27, 63, 58 and 107% increase in odds of headache, stomachache, backache and difficulty in getting to sleep by lunch skipping, respectively. While dinner skipping was related to 39, 59 and 52% increase in odds of headache, feeling low and difficulty in getting to sleep, respectively, it was associated with decreased odds of stomachache (OR 0.33, 95% CI 0.25, 0.44). CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that meal skipping is associated with some somatic and psychological health complaints among children; therefore, regular meal consumption, at least three times a day, is highly recommended in this population. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: V, cross-sectional descriptive study.
Entities:
Keywords:
Adolescents; Children; Health complaints; Meal frequency
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