Obese and female adolescents skip breakfast more than their non-obese and male peers

Abstract

<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:p>We examined the association between overweight/gender and skipping breakfast among adolescent students in Tehran city using a cross-sectional study and a multistage random sampling method. All educational zones in Tehran city were covered during the educational year of 2000–01. In total, 2321 students aged 11–16 years (1068 male; 1263 female) participated in the study. Weight and height were measured and body mass index (BMI; kg/m2) was calculated. Overweight, pre-obesity and obesity were defined as BMI ≥ 85th, 85th to 95th, and ≥ 95th percentile of age-sex-specific BMI reference values, respectively. Self-reported frequency of breakfast consumption was categorized as usual/always, often, and rarely/never (5–7, 2–4 and 0–1 times/wk, respectively). Student’s t and Chi-square tests were employed to analyze the data. Statistical inferences were made at α = 0.05. In boys and girls, the mean ± standard deviation of BMI was 19.8 ± 4.0 and 20.6 ± 4.1 kg/m2, the 18.8% and 23.1% were overweight, and 7.3% and 8.3% were obese, respectively. There was a significant difference in the frequency of breakfast consumption between obese and normal male students (P &lt; 0.001). Differences between pre-obese and normal, and obese and normal female students were also significant (P &lt; 0.002 and P &lt; 0.001, respectively). A significant difference was found in the frequency of breakfast consumption between male and female adolescents in all three categories (P &lt; 0.001). These results suggest that obese and female adolescents are more likely to skip breakfast than their normal and male peers and are therefore at higher risk for growth deficits and low educational performance. Preventive/educational programs are urgently needed in this age group.</jats:p>

Patterns of adolescent physical activity and dietary behaviours

“…Consistent with previous research, adolescent girls ate breakfast on fewer days per week compared to boys [ 13 , 34 , 35 ]. Despite the evidence that adolescents who skip breakfast are more likely to be overweight than those who regularly eat breakfast [ 5 ], skipping breakfast may be a chosen method of weight control for girls, and in some individuals may be associated with dieting, or disordered eating [ 35 ]. Further research is needed to understand the gender differences in breakfast consumption.…”

Associations between relationship status and day-to-day health behaviors and weight among diverse young adults.

“…Numerous past studies have identified that it is common for women to skip breakfast, and that skipping breakfast is associated with overweight and obesity (Keski- Rahkonen, Kaprio, Rissanen, Virkkunen, & Rose, 2003; Rashidi et al, 2007; Timlin, Pereira, Story, & Neumark-Sztainer, 2008). Thus, being married may be a protective factor for eating breakfast daily, which is a known protective factor for overweight/obesity (Keski-Rahkonen et al, 2003; Rashidi et al, 2007). One might expect this finding to be related to the fact that married women are also more likely to be parents.…”

Social-ecological influences on unhealthy dietary behaviours among Moroccan adolescents: a mixed-methods study

“…In the literature, skipping breakfast is typically more prevalent among girls (41,42) . This gender difference is not fully understood, and it was often explained by the higher weightrelated concerns among girls compared with boys (43,44) . The girls in our survey reported that lack of hunger and appetite in the morning was the main reason to skip breakfast.…”