Abstract
breakfast elimination as well as consumption of low-value snacks is ever increasing among adolescents. This study sought to explain the dimensions of social support for breakfast and healthy snacks among students. A qualitative research was conducted in Isfahan, Tehran, and Khorramabad, Iran high schools in 2017-18. Data were obtained from five focus group discussions and 35 in-depth interviews as well as semi-structured interviews with students of both sex, parents and school authorities. The data simultaneously analyzed using conventional content analysis in three stages including preparation, organization, and reporting. Prolonged engagement, maximum variation of sampling and member check were the enrichment factors of the research. Three main categories emerged. First, family supports with sub- categories of family in the school programs as well as mother-sponsored support and family life patterns. Second, school supports with sub- categories of instrumental and informational support. And third, support of other community organizations with sub- categories of intra-department coordination and mass media. The concepts emerging in the present study develop multilevel ecological strategies to promote nutritional health including family, school, and community organizations such as school renovations, municipalities, police, education, and mass media to promote healthy breakfast and snack behavior are applicable for students.
Highlights
Breakfast is recognized as the most important meal of the day, and its consumption is considered as an essential indicator of healthy lifestyle
Missing breakfast is often associated with lower levels of physical activity, risk factors for heart disease and high body mass index (BMI)[3, 4]
Based on the results of the qualitative research, three main categories emerged about the behavior of breakfast and healthy snacks including support of family, school, and community institutions.table 1
Summary
Breakfast is recognized as the most important meal of the day, and its consumption is considered as an essential indicator of healthy lifestyle. Breakfast has not been generally eaten and tendency to replace it with snacks of no value has increasingly grown among children and adolescents. It is reported that between 8% and 30% of Iranian children and adolescents do not eat breakfast [1, 2]. Snacking, which is defined as eating foods between the main meals, is known as one of the most important sources of calorie intake [5, 6]. The consequences of high consumption of snacks including obesity, dental caries and chronic diseases are completely proven [7]. Use of healthy snacks during the day leads to increased performance, memory enhancement and increased energy among children[7]
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