BREAKFAST SKIPING IS RELATED TO HIGHER BODY MASS INDEX AND HIGHER WAIST CIRCUMFERENCE IN PRIMARY SCHOOL CHILDREN

This paper examines the effect of breakfast skipping on weight status and abdominal obesity in urban school children. A cross-sectional survey was distributed to all primary schools (n=18) in Obuda, Budapest. A total of 3714 students (1860 boys, 1854 girls; age range: 7-15 years) were involved. Height, weight and waist circumference (WC) were measured. Data about obesity-related dietary habits (breakfast skipping, fruit and vegetable intake, number of meals, soft drinks consumption) were collected via self-administered questionnaire. One-fifth (21.3%) of the participants were regularly skipping breakfast. Frequency of regular breakfast decreased with age. Breakfast skipping was predictive for higher body mass index (BMI) and WC in a model that was adjusted for age, gender and all studied nutritional factors. Confirming these results, both BMI (19.3 +/- 4.0 vs. 18.1 +/- 3.7 kg m(-2); P<0.001) and WC (67.3 +/- 12.0 vs. 63.9 +/- 10.8 cm; P<0.001) were higher among breakfast skippers than in breakfast eaters. Odds ratios for breakfast skipping for being obese or abdominal obese were 1.59 (95% CI: 1.12-2.26) and 2.04 (95% CI: 1.57-2.65), respectively. Although prospective studies are needed to verify the causality between breakfast skipping and obesity, our findings support the importance of promoting regular breakfast consumption among school children.