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Breakfast Habits among Schoolchildren in the City of Uruguaiana, Brazil
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Breakfast consumption and meal frequency interaction with childhood obesity
G Antonogeorgos1, D B Panagiotakos, A Papadimitriou
1Third Department of Pediatrics, Attikon Hospital, Medical School, University of Athens, Athens, Greece. gantonogeorgos@gmail.com
Pediatric Obesity
|March 22, 2012
Summary
Higher meal frequency and daily breakfast consumption significantly reduce the risk of childhood obesity. This dietary pattern is key for preventing overweight and obesity in children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Nutrition
- Obesity Research
- Public Health
Background:
- Childhood obesity is a growing public health concern.
- Previous studies suggest inverse associations between meal frequency, breakfast consumption, and childhood obesity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the interaction effect of meal frequency and daily breakfast consumption on childhood obesity.
- To determine if a combined dietary pattern influences overweight and obesity risk in children.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study of 700 children aged 10-12 years.
- Dietary habits, lifestyle, and physical activity were assessed using questionnaires.
- Body Mass Index (BMI) was calculated to classify overweight and obesity status.
- Multiple logistic regression analysis was employed to evaluate interaction effects.
Main Results:
- 27.6% of children were overweight and 9.0% were obese.
- 60.2% consumed more than three meals daily; 62.7% ate breakfast regularly.
- Children with both higher meal frequency and daily breakfast intake were half as likely to be overweight or obese (aOR: 0.49, 95% CI: 0.27-0.88).
Conclusions:
- A dietary pattern combining increased meal frequency and regular breakfast consumption may offer protection against childhood overweight and obesity.
- This combined pattern represents a potential strategy for obesity prevention in pediatric populations.
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