And yet Again: Having Breakfast Is Positively Associated with Lower BMI and Healthier General Eating Behavior in Schoolchildren

Abstract

Given the high prevalence of childhood overweight, school-based programs aiming at nutritional behavior may be a good starting point for community-based interventions. Therefore, we investigated associations between school-related meal patterns and weight status in 1215 schoolchildren. Anthropometry was performed on-site in schools. Children reported their meal habits, and parents provided family-related information via questionnaires. Associations between nutritional behavior and weight status were estimated using hierarchical linear and logistic regression. Analyses were adjusted for age, socio–economic status, school type, migration background, and parental weight status. Having breakfast was associated with a lower BMI-SDS (βadj = −0.51, p = 0.004) and a lower risk of being overweight (ORadj = 0.30, p = 0.009), while having two breakfasts resulting in stronger associations (BMI-SDS: βadj = −0.66, p < 0.001; risk of overweight: ORadj = 0.22, p = 0.001). Likewise, children who regularly skipped breakfast on school days showed stronger associations (BMI-SDS: β = 0.49, p < 0.001; risk of overweight: OR = 3.29, p < 0.001) than children who skipped breakfast only occasionally (BMI-SDS: β = 0.43, p < 0.001; risk of overweight: OR = 2.72, p = 0.032). The associations persisted after controlling for parental SES and weight status. Therefore, our data confirm the school setting as a suitable starting point for community-based interventions and may underline the necessity of national programs providing free breakfast and lunch to children.

Association of insufficient sleep and skipping breakfast with overweight/obesity in children and adolescents: Findings from a cross‐sectional provincial surveillance project in Jiangsu

“…We observed that insufficient sleep was separately associated with overweight/obesity in Chinese children and adolescents, which was consistent with previous studies, 25–27 perhaps due in part to that sleep deficiency might lead to extra food intake while awake 25,28 and less physical activities because of fatigue 29 . We also observed the individual association of skipping breakfast with overweight/obesity, which was consistent with some findings 30,31 . A possible explanation was attributed to a lack of satiety, which would lead to an increase in total energy intake and contribute to higher circulating insulin levels, then result in higher fat storage and increased weight 11,32 .…”

“…29 We also observed the individual association of skipping breakfast with overweight/obesity, which was consistent with some findings. 30,31 A possible explanation was attributed to a lack of satiety, which would lead to an increase in total energy intake and contribute to higher circulating insulin levels, then result in higher fat storage and increased weight. 11,32 Besides, children who skip breakfast usually tend to have unhealthy eating patterns and lifestyles, including reduced intake of nutritious foods, more reliance on snacks and increased sedentary behaviours, all of which would consequently lead to obesity.…”

Purchasing Behavior, Setting, Pricing, Family: Determinants of School Lunch Participation

“…The negative association between school lunch participation and overweight lost statistical significance after adjustment for other covariates. As we could show in previous research, having breakfast and lunch is associated with lower BMI-SDS and lower risk of being overweight [24]. This finding underlines the health-promoting effect of a high meal frequency and thus confirms existing literature [53][54][55].…”

“…Data were collected within the cross-sectional Leipzig School Nutrition Study [24]. The study was conducted in public and private schools chosen from predefined areas in Leipzig, Germany.…”

Body Composition and Anthropometric Indicators in Children and Adolescents 6–15 Years Old

“…The increase in central obesity in both girls and boys does not appear to be an isolated trend. There is evidence that abdominal obesity is increasing faster than obesity in general (assessed on the basis of BMI) [ 42 ].…”