Abstract
This study examined the associations between eating or skipping breakfast and the quality of breakfast eaten on health-related quality of life (HRQOL), perceived stress and depression in 527 Spanish adolescents. Results showed differences in stress and two domains of HRQOL; Moods and Emotions and Parent Relations and Home Life between adolescent breakfast skippers and eaters, those having breakfast showing higher levels of stress and poor HRQOL. When breakfast quality was analyzed in breakfast eaters, adolescents who ate a good quality breakfast showed better HRQOL and lower levels of stress and depression than those who ate a poor or very poor quality breakfast. Further, breakfast skippers showed better HRQOL and lower levels of stress and depression than breakfast eaters who ate a poor or very poor quality breakfast. These findings indicate the importance of eating a good quality breakfast, rather than just having or not having breakfast. The conclusions of the present study are especially relevant for clinicians and nutritional educators, given the significant impact of breakfast quality on health-related quality of life, stress and depression observed in the adolescents studied.
Highlights
In Mediterranean countries, breakfast has been recognized as one the most important meal of the day [1]
This study examined the relationship between breakfast consumption and perceived stress, depressive symptoms and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among adolescent students
We found that compared to breakfast eating, skipping breakfast was significantly associated with better HRQOL and lower perceived stress
Summary
In Mediterranean countries, breakfast has been recognized as one the most important meal of the day [1]. Regular consumption of breakfast is associated with a range of benefits in children and adolescents including more adequate intakes of macro and micronutrients [2,3]; lower body mass index (BMI) [4]); higher cognitive performance [5,6]; and better levels of well-being [7] and quality of life [8]. Breakfast consumption among children and adolescents has shown to induce changes in metabolism, leading to improved diet quality and better food choices which may impact favorably on adolescents’. Standard nutritional recommendations suggest that an ideal breakfast meal should contain 20 to 35% of daily energy derived from three food groups, including milk and milk derivatives, cereals (unrefined and whole grain) and fresh fruit or juice without added sugar [9]. In the USA and Europe from 10 to 30% of young people report skipping breakfast and more than half show
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