Last update:
29-Sep-2000

Arch Hellen Med, 17(1), January-February 2000, 61-67

ORIGINAL PAPER

Body mass index
in relation to frequency of breakfast consumption
among Greek students

T. VASSILAKOU, C. GNARDELLIS, A. TRICHOPOULOU
Department of Nutrition and Biochemistry, National School of Public Health, Athens, Greece

OBJECTIVE The study of body weight in relation to the frequency of breakfast consumption among students in Greece.
METHOD A questionnaire was completed by 436 students of the School of Health and Welfare Sciences of Athens Technological Educational Institute, covering socio-demographic characteristics and dietary habits, as well as food attitudes and behavior. The body mass index (BMI) of the students was calculated from their reported height and weight.
RESULTS The mean value of BMI was 24.0 kg/m2 for males and 21.1 kg/m2 for females. Among the students 12.2% were found to be overweight (25 kg/m2<=BMI<30 kg/m2) and 1% were found to be obese (BMI>=30 kg/m2). Using a multiple linear regression model for analysis of the data, a statistically significant inverse association was found between frequency of breakfast consumption and BMI. The BMI of students who reported a frequency of breakfast consumption of less than once a week (22.6%) was higher by 1.11 kg/m2 and 1.21 kg/m2 respectively compared with the BMI of those with frequency of breakfast consumption of 1–3 and 4–6 times per week. The BMI of students who ate breakfast daily (21.2%) was lower by 0.91 kg/m2 compared to the BMI of those who had breakfast less than once a week.
CONCLUSIONS Although the majority of the students (87%) were classified as normoweight, 13% were found to be overweight and obese. The inverse association found between BMI and the frequency of breakfast consumption supports the overall positive influence of regular breakfast consumption on children’s and adolescents’ health reported in the literature.

Key words: Breakfast consumption, Meal patterns, Nutritional behaviour, Obesity.