Irregular eating of meals in adolescence and the metabolic syndrome in adulthood: results from a 27-year prospective cohort

Abstract

Objective: The objective was to investigate whether irregular eating of meals in adolescence predicts the metabolic syndrome and its components in adulthood, and if any specific meal is of particular importance. Design: Prospective cohort study with 27 years of follow-up. Information on meals (breakfast, school lunch and dinner with family), lifestyle (alcohol consumption, smoking habits, physical activity, consumption of sweets and pastries) at age 16 years was assessed from questionnaires, and presence or not of the metabolic syndrome and its components were defined at age 43 years in 889 participants (82·1 % of total cohort). Logistic regression was used to calculate odds ratios and confidence intervals. Setting: The Northern Swedish Cohort; all school-leavers of the 9th grade in the town Luleå in 1981. Subjects: Adolescents (age 16 years).Results: Irregular eating of meals at age 16 years was associated with higher prevalence of the metabolic syndrome at age 43 years (OR = 1·74; 95 % CI 1·12, 2·71), but this was explained by concurrent unhealthy lifestyle at age 16 years. Poor breakfast at age 16 years was the only meal associated with the metabolic syndrome at age 43 years, independent of other meals, BMI (kg/m 2 ) and lifestyle at age 16 years (OR = 1·67; 95 % CI 1·00, 2·80). Conclusions: Irregular eating of meals in adolescence predicted the metabolic syndrome in adulthood, but not independently of BMI and lifestyle in adolescence. Poor breakfast in adolescence was the only specific meal associated with future metabolic syndrome, even after adjustments. Breakfast eating should be encouraged in adolescence.

Skipping breakfast is associated with adiposity markers especially when sleep time is adequate in adolescents

“…As our results suggest, skipping breakfast among adolescents increased total and abdominal obesity, regardless where they live, sleep duration and sex. Adolescents at 16 years of age who usually skipped breakfast, after 27 years of follow-up, showed a significant increase in the prevalence of MetS in adulthood (predicted by AO and high fasting glucose) despite BMI, have another meal in the day or unhealthy lifestyle habits 52 . In addition, skipping breakfast over time during childhood as well as in adulthood, may lead to damage of cardiometabolic health [larger WC, higher homeostatic model assessment (HOMA score) and BMI] besides harmful behaviors 53 .…”

Unhealthy lifestyle and the risk of metabolic syndrome - the Romanian experience

“…A more detailed questionnaire should be used in the future. Furthermore, data on some behaviors (such as alcohol consumption) are based on self-declaration with the possibility of misclassification of exposure due to underreporting (76)(77).…”

Age Differences in the Relationship between Secondhand Smoke Exposure and Risk of Metabolic Syndrome: A Meta-Analysis

“…Metabolic syndrome, according to the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) criteria, is a group of three or more risk factors, which include abdominal obesity, dyslipidemia such as low levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and high levels of triglycerides, high blood pressure, and elevated fasting plasma glucose (FPG) [10,11]. Many factors may induce metabolic syndrome, including unhealthy eating habits, short sleep duration, and lack of exercise [12,13,14,15], but the effects of SHS on metabolic syndrome have not been fully studied. In our meta-analysis, we analyze the relationship of SHS with some risk indicators of metabolic syndrome in young people and adults, such as fasting plasma glucose (FPG), insulin, total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), HDL-C, body mass index (BMI), and waist circumference (WC).…”