Breakfast Consumption Research Articles

IJCM_403A: Breakfast Skipping: Proportion and Awareness of its Effects Among Medical Students

Background: Breakfast is considered the most important meal of the day, providing essential nutrients and energy needed for daily activities. Skipping breakfast has been associated with various health complications, including impaired cognitive function and increased risk of chronic diseases. Understanding the prevalence and reasons behind breakfast skipping among medical students is crucial for promoting healthy habits and overall well-being. Objectives: This study aimed to determine the proportion of medical students skipping breakfast, assess awareness about the importance of breakfast consumption, and explore associated factors such as gender and academic semester. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted among medical undergraduates at Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore. A semi-structured questionnaire was administered to 285 students from the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th year MBBS classes. Convenience sampling was used, and data were analysed using descriptive statistics and chi-square tests. Results: Of the 285 students surveyed, 53% reported skipping breakfast. Reasons for skipping included waking up late (77.48%), dissatisfaction with available food options (44.37%), and lack of appetite (21.85%). While most students were aware of the negative effects of breakfast skipping on cognitive function and mood, fewer recognized its association with cardiovascular problems and menstrual irregularities. Significant associations were found between breakfast skipping and academic semester, with 6th-semester students exhibiting the highest prevalence. However, no significant gender differences were observed. Conclusion: The study highlights a concerning prevalence of breakfast skipping among medical students, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions to promote healthy breakfast habits.

Associations between dietary behaviours and the mental and physical well-being of Swedish adolescents

AimsThis study aims to investigate the association between dietary behaviours, overweight/obesity, and mental health and well-being among Swedish adolescents.MethodsData from the 2017/2018 Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) survey of 3692 adolescents aged ≈11, ≈13, and ≈15 years was analysed. We evaluated the prevalence and association of dietary behaviours, characterised by daily intake of fruits and vegetables, consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) and sweets once per week, and daily consumption of family meals and breakfast, with socioeconomic and demographic factors. Multivariate logistic regression models (adjusted and unadjusted) were then used to examine the relationship between dietary behaviours, overweight/obesity, and mental health and well-being including psychosomatic complaints, life satisfaction, and school-related pressure.ResultsBoys were more likely to eat breakfast and have meals together with their family than girls, but their fruit and vegetable intake was lower compared to girls. Adolescents with lower socioeconomic status (low family affluence, families perceived ’not well-off’ and two unemployed parents), single-parent households and twoforeign born parents were more likely to engage in poorer dietary behaviours. Daily breakfast, family meals, fruit and vegetable intake were positively associated with mental health and well-being. Specifically, daily family meals were linked to higher life satisfaction, fewer psychosomatic complaints, and reduced school-related pressure. Breakfast emerged as a beneficial dietary habit, associated with higher life satisfaction, and a lower likelihood of psychosomatic complaints, school-related pressure, and overweight/obesity. Fruit and vegetable consumption was consistently associated with better mental health and well-being while associations between SSBs and sweets were mixed.ConclusionsImproving mental health and well-being, along with tackling the rising rates of mental illness and challenges related to overweight/obesity in adolescents constitute key public health priorities. Implementing policies that promote the intake of fruits and vegetables, reducing the consumption of SSBs and sweets, and emphasizing the value of having breakfast and sharing family meals could offer a cost-effective public health intervention.

Lifestyle Practices Predictors of Nutritional Status among Basic Public-School Children in Aden, Yemen

Introduction: Since March 2015, children's nutrition in Yemen is increasingly threatened and acute malnutrition is now at serious levels across the country. This study aimed to determine the association between nutritional status and lifestyle practices of basic-public school children in Aden-Yemen. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in January 2022 on a randomly selected basic public schools’ children aged 6-10 years. Lifestyle practices including breakfast consumption at home, physical activity, screen time and sleeping time were assessed by a self-administered questionnaire filled by the parents. Measurement of Z-score was done for height-for-age, weight-for-age and body-mass-index for-age to define stunting, underweight, thinness, overweight and obesity respectively. The data were processed and analyzed using SPSS-25 and World Health Organization’s (WHO) Anthro plus program. Results: The study involved 930 students having the following prevalence: 26.9% for stunting; 32.5% for underweight and 23.1% for thinness. In addition, 1.2% were obese and 3.2% were overweight. According to the binary logistic regression, children aged >8-10 years were more likely to be stunted (AOR=5.269; 95% CI:3.339-8.313), underweight (AOR=9.156; 95% CI: 5.631-14.890) and thin (AOR=3.901; 95% CI: 2.400-6.339) compared to younger age. Male children were more likely to be stunted (AOR= 1.496; 95% CI: 11.091-2.053), underweight (AOR=3.026; 95% CI: 2.195-4.172) and thin (AOR=8.001; 95% CI: 5.313-12.048) compared to female children. Less than daily consumption of breakfast increased the risk of stunting (AOR=1.505; 95% CI:1.109-2.042), underweight (AOR=4.724; 95% CI:3.421-6.524) and thinness (AOR=6.053; 95% CI:4.033-9.084) compared to daily breakfast consumption. Children sleeping < 9 hours was associated with increased risk of stunting (AOR=1.479; 95% CI:1.093-2.001) and thinness (AOR=1.548; 95%CI:1.102-2.176) than sleeping ≥ 9 hours. Additionally, increasing likelihood of overweight (AOR= 50.848 ;95% CI: 6.211-416.301) and obesity (AOR= 8.977;95% CI: 1.098-73.422) was observed among children play outside < 1 hour compared to playing ≥ 1 hour. Furthermore, increasing risk of overweight was associated with children’s screen time ≥ 2 hours compared to < 1 hours (AOR=12.034 ;95% CI: 2.311-62.668). Conclusion: Stunting, underweight and thinness are major nutritional problems among basic public-school children in Aden. Unhealthy dietary and bad lifestyle practices associated with malnutrition indicators. This calls for attention by policymakers to address the challenges of malnutrition and implementing urgent intervention for awareness raising to maintain healthy lifestyle among school children.

Association between daily breakfast habit during pregnancy and neurodevelopment in 3-year-old offspring: The Japan Environment and Children’s Study

The association between daily breakfast habits during pregnancy and offspring neurodevelopment remains unknown. We evaluated the association between breakfast habits during pregnancy and offspring neurodevelopment. Data of 72,260 women with singleton deliveries at and after 37 weeks of gestation enrolled during 2011–2014 in the Japan Environment and Children’s Study were analysed. Offspring neurodevelopmental delays at 3 years of age were evaluated using the Ages and Stages Questionnaire, Third Edition (ASQ-3). Participants were stratified by tertiles of maternal daily energy intake (DEI) (Groups 1, 2, and 3:< 1400, 1400–1799, and ≥ 1800 kcal, respectively) during pregnancy and by offspring sex. The adjusted odds ratio (aOR) for abnormality in communication among participants with daily breakfast consumption habit was 0.87 (95% confidence interval, 0.80–0.96). A stratified analysis based on total DEI showed no significant differences in the neurodevelopment of Group 1 offspring. The aOR for abnormality in communication was 0.80 (95% confidence interval, 0.68–0.94) in Group 2. The aOR for abnormality in personal–social characteristics was 0.84 (95% confidence interval, 0.71–0.99) in Group 3. Maternal daily breakfast habits are associated with offspring neurodevelopment at 3 years of age, with the association influenced by maternal DEI and offspring sex.

Association between breakfast consumption, breakfast quality, mental health and quality of life in Turkish adolescents: A high school-based cross-sectional study.

This study aimed to determine the frequency of breakfast consumption and breakfast quality among adolescents and to evaluate the relationships between breakfast consumption, breakfast quality, mental health, and health-related quality of life. This cross-sectional study included 449 students from 17 high schools between December 2022 and May 2023. A face-to-face questionnaire measuring the frequency of breakfast consumption, Mediterranean diet quality index (KIDMED), health-related quality of life (KIDSCREEN), and depression, anxiety and stress scales (DASS-21) was performed. Of the students, 54.1% skipped breakfast 2 or more times a week and 75.9% had poor breakfast quality. There were significant differences in breakfast quality classification according to the frequency of breakfast consumption (p = 0.003). Breakfast consumption ≤1 time/week or 2-5 times/week was associated with depression, anxiety and low adherence to the Mediterranean diet. No relationship was observed between breakfast quality and stress, depression or anxiety (p = 0.620, p = 0.586, p = 0.539, respectively) or between breakfast quality and the KIDSCREEN-27 subscales (p > 0.05). However, those eating poor-quality breakfasts had better results in physical wellbeing (p = 0.022), psychological wellbeing (p = 0.024), autonomy and parent relations (p = 0.017) than breakfast-skippers and also scored lower for depression, stress and anxiety (all p < 0.001). In conclusion, the frequency of breakfast consumption had a stronger association with reduced symptoms of stress, depression and anxiety, as well as improvements in all dimensions of health-related quality of life, compared to the quality of breakfast consumed. Given the association of breakfast consumption with mental health outcomes in adolescents, our findings are of great importance, especially to parents, clinicians and nutritional educators.

Examining the association of breakfast skipping with sleep disturbance, mental health, and health-related quality of life: data from the 2018 Korean community health survey

ABSTRACT Objectives: This study aimed to explore the relationship between breakfast skipping and its effects on sleep disorders, mental health, and health-related quality of life among Korean adults. Methods: Utilizing data from the 2018 Korea Community Health Survey, this cross-sectional analysis included 173,272 adults aged 19 years and older. Instruments used for assessment included the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 for depression, the EuroQol 5-dimension (EQ-5D) for health-related quality of life, and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index for sleep disorders. The complex sample logistic regression analysis was employed to adjust for potential confounders. Results: Breakfast skipping was found to be significantly associated with delayed mid-sleep time, an increased propensity for daytime sleepiness, and a notable decline in sleep quality. Additionally, it was linked to a significant increase in depression risk, compromised health-related quality of life, and elevated stress levels across both genders. All five dimensions of the EQ-5D were negatively impacted by breakfast skipping. Discussion: The findings highlight the detrimental effects of skipping breakfast on sleep patterns, mental health, and overall quality of life, stressing the importance of regular breakfast consumption for enhancing these health outcomes. The study suggests the need for further research to uncover the mechanisms behind these associations and to devise targeted interventions to mitigate the negative impacts of breakfast skipping.

Chronic and immediate refined carbohydrate consumption and facial attractiveness.

The Western diet has undergone a massive switch since the second half of the 20th century, with the massive increase of the consumption of refined carbohydrate associated with many adverse health effects. The physiological mechanisms linked to this consumption, such as hyperglycaemia and hyperinsulinemia, may impact non medical traits such as facial attractiveness. To explore this issue, the relationship between facial attractiveness and immediate and chronic refined carbohydrate consumption estimated by glycemic load was studied for 104 French subjects. Facial attractiveness was assessed by opposite sex raters using pictures taken two hours after a controlled breakfast. Chronic consumption was assessed considering three high glycemic risk meals: breakfast, afternoon snacking and between-meal snacking. Immediate consumption of a high glycemic breakfast decreased facial attractiveness for men and women while controlling for several control variables, including energy intake. Chronic refined carbohydrate consumption had different effects on attractiveness depending on the meal and/or the sex. Chronic refined carbohydrate consumption, estimated by the glycemic load, during the three studied meals reduced attractiveness, while a high energy intake increased it. Nevertheless, the effect was reversed for men concerning the afternoon snack, for which a high energy intake reduced attractiveness and a high glycemic load increased it. These effects were maintained when potential confounders for facial attractiveness were controlled such as age, age departure from actual age, masculinity/femininity (perceived and measured), BMI, physical activity, parental home ownership, smoking, couple status, hormonal contraceptive use (for women), and facial hairiness (for men). Results were possibly mediated by an increase in age appearance for women and a decrease in perceived masculinity for men. The physiological differences between the three meals studied and the interpretation of the results from an adaptive/maladaptive point of view in relation to our new dietary environment are discussed.

Skipping breakfast and its association with sociodemographic characteristics, night eating syndrome, and sleep quality among university students in Bangladesh

IntroductionSkipping breakfast has become more common, and it can significantly affect a person’s health, performance, mood, and other physiological and psychological factors. In Bangladesh, university students often encounter unhealthy dietary habits, which raises questions about why many university students choose to skip breakfast. The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of skipping breakfast among university students in Bangladesh and explore the contributing factors.MethodsPatuakhali Science and Technology University, Bangladesh was the location of this cross-sectional study. Breakfast consumption was measured with the single-question item, “How often do you eat breakfast?” (Almost every day, sometimes, rarely, or never). Skipping breakfast was classified as respondents selecting sometimes, rarely, or never having breakfast. Sociodemographic, behavioral, and sleep-related data were collected as key predictor variables. Multiple logistic regression models identified factors associated with skipping breakfast.ResultsThe prevalence of skipping breakfast among study participants (N = 502, 51.6% female and mean age 21.31 years) was 63.5%. Female students were more likely to skip breakfast compared to male students (adjusted odds ratio, AOR = 1.65, 95% CI: 1.06–2.55). Smoker participants had a higher likelihood of skipping breakfast compared to non-smokers (AOR = 3.92, 95% CI: 1.57–9.78). Students with night eating syndrome had a higher likelihood of skipping breakfast compared to their counterparts (AOR = 1.84, 95% CI: 1.06–3.22). Students with poor sleep quality were three times more likely to skip breakfast than their counterparts (AOR = 2.95, 95% CI: 1.93–4.51). Overweight/obese students were less likely to skip breakfast compared to their counterparts (AOR = 0.40, 95% CI: 0.20–0.82).ConclusionThis study highlights a high prevalence of skipping breakfast among university students in Bangladesh. Specifically, students who are females, smokers, poor sleepers and who have night eating syndrome are more likely to skip breakfast compared to their counterparts. These findings underscore a need for targeted interventions and educational programs to promote healthy breakfast habits. Addressing these modifiable risk factors can have a positive impact on students’ nutritional practices and their health and wellbeing.

Dietary Changes of Youth during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Review

BackgroundThe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has taken the lives of millions and disrupted countless more worldwide. Simply living through the pandemic has had drastic effects on the health of citizens. Diet, an important aspect of health, has been uniquely affected by the pandemic, although these changes have not been sufficiently studied among youth. ObjectivesThe objective of this systematic review was to investigate dietary changes of youth during COVID-19. MethodsA prespecified literature review was conducted using MEDLINE, EMBASE, Scopus, and CINAHL to identify studies from January 2020 to May 2023 that assessed dietary changes among youth aged ≤20 y compared with before the pandemic. Only quantitative observational studies that were published in English were included. Two authors completed all screening/study selection independently, with disagreements being resolved via discussion. Data extraction was completed by 1 author. Dietary changes were categorized into food groups and habits for analysis purposes. ResultsIn total, 67 studies met inclusion criteria. Most studies used recall to assess changes (48/67; 71.6%). Most studies found an increase in fruits and vegetables (24/46; 52.2%), grain products (6/11; 54.5%), meat, poultry, and eggs (4/8, 50.0%), diet quality indices and/or overall dietary assessments (7/13, 53.8%), and the frequency of snacking (9/12; 75.0%), whereas generally finding a decrease in ultraprocessed foods (32/53; 60.4%), compared with before the COVID-19 pandemic. Mixed findings or primarily no changes were found for fish and aquatic products, legumes, beans, seeds and nuts, milk and milk products, breakfast consumption, and nutrient intake. ConclusionsMostly favorable dietary changes appear to have occurred among youth during COVID-19, although there were several mixed findings and unclear takeaways among the foods and habits under study. The heterogeneity of defining food groups was a noted limitation in the current review.

Inequities in dietary intake and eating behaviours among adolescents in Canada

ObjectiveTo provide contemporary evidence of how dietary intake and eating behaviours vary by social positions among adolescents.MethodsWe used survey data collected during the 2020–2021 school year from 52,138 students attending 133 secondary schools in Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario, and Quebec, Canada. Multiple regression models tested whether self-reported indicators of dietary intake and eating behaviours differed by gender, race/ethnicity, and socioeconomic status (SES).ResultsFemales were more likely than males to skip breakfast, restrict eating, and consume fruit, vegetables, and fast food on more days. Gender-diverse/“prefer not to say” students were more likely to restrict eating than males and the least likely to consume breakfast and drink water daily, and fruits and vegetables regularly. Black and Latin American students were more likely to restrict eating and consume purchased snacks and fast food, and less likely to drink water daily than white and Asian adolescents. Daily breakfast consumption was most likely among Latin American students. Black students were the least likely to report eating breakfast daily and fruits and vegetables regularly. Lower SES was associated with lower odds of eating breakfast and drinking water daily and regular fruit and vegetable consumption, and higher odds of restrictive eating and purchased snack consumption. Fast food consumption had a u-shaped association with SES.ConclusionResults emphasize gender, racial/ethnic, and socioeconomic inequities in the diets and eating behaviours of adolescents. There is a critical need to address the structural factors contributing to inequities and prevent the consequences of dietary disparities.

Changes in breakfast and water consumption among adolescents in Canada: examining the impact of COVID-19 in worsening inequity

BackgroundTo assess whether changes in breakfast and water consumption during the first full school year after the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic varied based on sex/gender, race/ethnicity, and socioeconomic status among Canadian adolescents.MethodsProspective annual survey data collected pre- (October 2019-March 2020) and post-COVID-19 onset (November 2020-June 2021) the Cannabis, Obesity, Mental health, Physical activity, Alcohol, Smoking, and Sedentary behaviour (COMPASS) study. The sample consisted of 8,128 students; mean (SD) age = 14.2 (1.3) years from a convenience sample of 41 Canadian secondary schools. At both timepoints self-reported breakfast and water consumption were dichotomized as daily or not. Multivariable logistic generalized estimating equations with school clustering were used to estimate differences in maintenance/adoption of daily consumption post-COVID-19 based on demographic factors, while controlling for pre-COVID-19 behaviour.ResultsAdjusted odds ratios (AOR) with 95% confidence intervals are reported. Females (AOR = 0.71 [0.63, 0.79]) and lower socioeconomic status individuals (AORLowest:Highest=0.41 [0.16, 1.00]) were less likely to maintain/adopt daily breakfast consumption than male and higher socioeconomic status peers in the 2020–2021 school year. Black identifying individuals were less likely than all other racial/ethnic identities to maintain/adopt plain water consumption every day of the week (AOR = 0.33 [0.15, 0.75], p < 0.001). No significant interaction effects were detected.ConclusionsResults support the hypothesis that changes in nutritional behaviours were not equal across demographic groups. Female, lower socioeconomic status, and Black adolescents reported greater declines in healthy nutritional behaviours. Public health interventions to improve adherence to daily breakfast and water consumption should target these segments of the population.Trial RegistrationNot a trial.

Short sleep time may be the main reason for irregular breakfast to cause overweight-a cross-sectional study.

In recent years, the relationship between circadian rhythm and overweight and obesity has attracted the attention of many scholars. To evaluate association between the duration of sleep and the regularity of breakfast and overweight. A total of 1,178 students from Qingdao University were selected by stratified cluster sampling. There were 601 males (24.69 ± 0.80 years old) and 569 females (24.54 ± 0.70 years old). We used body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) to define overweight levels. Chi-square test, Pearson correlation test, and logistic regression were applied to test association among overweight, sleep duration, sleep onset time, and breakfast regularity. Pittsburgh sleep quality index was used to assess the overall sleep quality of the study subjects. Mediation effect and Sobel test were used to analyze the effect of sleep duration on breakfast regularity and overweight. Only 34.1% of the population ate breakfast every day, and eating breakfast 1-3 times per week was associated with a higher risk of overweight (BMI: OR = 2.183, 95%CI: 1.369,3,481; WC: OR = 2.101, 95%CI: 1.232,3,583; WHR: OR = 2.108, 95%CI: 1.331,3,337). The effects of all types of Usual Breakfast Consumption Frequency on overweight were fully mediated by sleep duration (p < 0.05). In particular, the subjects exercised outdoors more than five times per week slept longer (p < 0.05). Short sleep duration may be the main reason for irregular breakfast leading to overweight. Adequate outdoor exercise is essential for weight maintenance.

Skipping breakfast is associated to inadequate nutrient intakes among Tunisian children: a cross-sectional study.

Breakfast is widely acknowledged as a crucial meal of the day, particularly for children, owing to its role in supplying essential nutrients and energy necessary for optimal growth and cognitive function. This study aims to examine differences in nutrient intake between breakfast skippers and non-skippers among children. A representative sample of 1,200 Tunisian preschool and schoolchildren, aged 3-9 years, was randomly selected from kindergartens and primary schools in the Greater Tunis region which includes four governorates (Tunis, Ariana, Manouba and Ben Arous) using a two-stage cross-sectional design. Stratification was carried out depending on each of the selected governorates and urban/rural areas. Dietary intake was evaluated using the 24-hour recall method and a diet history covering the week preceding the survey. Nutritional food composition was derived from a specific Tunisian food composition database. Nutrient intake below age- and sex-specific reference values was considered inadequate. The findings indicate that the daily intake of energy and nutrients was lower among breakfast skippers compared to regular breakfast eaters. After adjusting for energy, gender, age, BMI and household economic proxy, the daily consumption of total sugar, riboflavin, vitamin B-5, phosphorus and calcium was higher among breakfast consumers while saturated fatty acid intake was higher among skippers. A comparative analysis of daily mean food category intake between the two groups revealed a higher consumption of milk and dairy products among breakfast consumers. Regular breakfast consumption is an important part of maintaining a balanced diet and healthy weight.

Associations of regular consumption of breakfast, lunch and dinner with Body Mass Index during adolescence: longitudinal findings by weight status among the Eating and Activity over Time 2010-2018 cohort.

To examine how the associations between meal consumption and BMI over 8 years differ by weight status in a sample of adolescents. Longitudinal, population-based study. Breakfast, lunch and dinner consumption and BMI were self-reported. Linear regressions were used to examine how the associations between meal consumption and BMI differed by weight status. Adolescents in the Minneapolis/St. Paul metropolitan area. Adolescents (n 1,471) were surveyed as part of the EAT 2010-2018 in 2009-2010 (Mage = 14·3 years) and 2017-2018 (Mage = 22·0 years). The prevalence of regular breakfast, lunch and dinner consumption (≥ 5 times/week) ranged from 45 to 65 %, 75 to 89 % and 76 to 94 %, respectively, depending on weight status category. Among adolescents with a sex- and age-specific BMI < 15th percentile, regular consumptions of breakfast, lunch and dinner during adolescence were positively associated with BMI in emerging adulthood compared with irregular consumption of breakfast, lunch and dinner (<5 times/week) after adjustment for socio-demographic characteristics (β = 5·43, β = 5·39 and β = 6·46, respectively; all P-values <0·01). Among adolescents in the BMI 15-85th and 85-95th percentiles, regular consumptions of breakfast, lunch and dinner were positively associated with BMI but to a lesser extent (P-values <0·01). For participants with a BMI ≥ 95th percentile, regular consumptions of breakfast, lunch and dinner were positively associated with BMI, but the associations were not statistically significant (P-values > 0·05). The relationship between meal consumption during adolescence and BMI in emerging adulthood differs by adolescent weight status. Future studies should investigate underlying factors related to meal consumption routines and BMI.

Factors Influencing Sexual Experiences in Adolescents Using a Random Forest Model: Secondary Data Analysis of the 2019~2021 Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey Data

The objective of this study was to develop a predictive model for the sexual experiences of adolescents using the random forest method and to identify the "variable importance." The study utilized data from the 2019 to 2021 Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey, which included 86,595 man and 80,504 woman participants. The number of independent variables stood at 44. SPSS was used to conduct Rao-Scott χ² tests and complex sample t-tests. Modeling was performed using the random forest algorithm in Python. Performance evaluation of each model included assessments of precision, recall, F1-score, receiver operating characteristics curve, and area under the curve calculations derived from the confusion matrix. The prevalence of sexual experiences initially decreased during the COVID-19 pandemic, but later increased. "Variable importance" for predicting sexual experiences, ranked in the top six, included week and weekday sedentary time and internet usage time, followed by ease of cigarette purchase, age at first alcohol consumption, smoking initiation, breakfast consumption, and difficulty purchasing alcohol. Education and support programs for promoting adolescent sexual health, based on the top-ranking important variables, should be integrated with health behavior intervention programs addressing internet usage, smoking, and alcohol consumption. We recommend active utilization of the random forest analysis method to develop high-performance predictive models for effective disease prevention, treatment, and nursing care.

Increased self-regulation of eating behavior is associated with reduced generalized anxiety disorder in Saudi Arabia.

There is a growing body of evidence suggesting that self-regulation of eating behavior (SREB) is closely linked to dietary habits and mental health. However, little is known about these relationships within the Saudi Arabian population. This study aimed to address this gap. A digital cross-sectional study was conducted utilizing the SREB and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD-7) questionnaires, along with a brief survey about dietary habits. Linear and logistic regression analyses were employed to examine these associations, with a total of 651 Saudi participants enrolled in the study. The results showed that only 15.5% of participants demonstrated a high capacity for SREB, while 65% experienced moderate or severe symptoms of GAD. Greater SREB was significantly associated with reduced GAD scores (β = -0.13, 95% CI; -0.12 to -0.03; p < 0.001) and lower BMI (β = -0.10, 95% CI; 0.08 to -0.00; p = 0.01). Additionally, predictive factors for high capacity for SREB included higher daily intake of fruits (OR = 2.90, 95% CI; 1.44 to 5.84; p = 0.003) and regular breakfast consumption (OR = 1.64, 95% CI; 1.01 to 2.63; p = 0.04). These findings suggest that enhancing SREB may be a promising strategy for obesity prevention and improving mental health outcomes among the Saudi population. Implementing interventions aimed at promoting healthier dietary habits could support the physical and mental well-being of this population.

Frequency of breakfast consumption is associated with anthropometric markers of body adiposity in university students

Frequency of breakfast consumption is associated with anthropometric markers of body adiposity in university students

How Healthy Lifestyle Habits Have Interacted with SARS-CoV-2 Infection and the Effectiveness of COVID-19 Vaccinations: Tohoku Medical Megabank Project Birth and Three-Generation Cohort Study.

To examine the interaction between lifestyle habits and the COVID-19 vaccinations for preventing SARS-CoV-2 infection, we analyzed 11,016 adult participants registered in the Tohoku Medical Megabank Project Birth and Three-Generation Cohort Study. Lifestyle variables, including regular exercise, smoking and drinking habits, sleep status, body mass index, and daily breakfast consumption, were assessed from 2014 to 2019 using baseline questionnaires. Information on SARS-CoV-2 infection and the COVID-19 vaccination were also collected from March 2020 to May 2023. The study period was divided into two in the postvaccination phase: the first period (the beginning of the vaccination program) and the second period (the fourth shot onward). In the Cox proportional-hazards model analysis, the five-time vaccinations group showed a significantly lower risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection adjusted age, sex, underlying health condition, and lifestyle variables (hazard ratio [HR] 0.81, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.76-0.86). Logistic regression analysis revealed that a higher number of vaccinations was significantly associated with a low risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection regardless of lifestyle habits (three times in the first period: odds ratio [OR] 0.19, 95% CI 0.15-0.24; five times in the second period: OR 0.07, 95% CI 0.05-0.11 vs. none). Regarding lifestyle habits, the risk reduction in those who had sleep satisfaction (OR 0.12, 95% CI 0.08-0.18) was slightly larger than in those who had sleep dissatisfaction (OR 0.23, 95% CI 0.17-0.32) in the group with the highest number of vaccinations in the first period; however, this interaction was hardly confirmed in the second period when the number of infected cases significantly increased. Our findings indicated that a higher number of COVID-19 vaccinations was associated with reduced risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection; otherwise, we may need to understand the advantages and limitations of a healthy lifestyle for preventing infection depending on the situation with vaccinations and infection spreading.

Household food insecurity and its association with academic performance among primary school adolescents in Hargeisa City, Somaliland.

Academic achievement is crucial for the social and economic development of young people and determines the quality of education of a nation. According to different studies, food insecurity adversely affects children's health, nutrition, and subsequent decline in academic performance by impairing students' ability to learn and therefore affects the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of quality education and lifelong learning opportunities for all. To provide evidence on the association of food insecurity with academic performance is necessary. The current study assessed household food insecurity and its association with academic performance among primary school adolescents in Hargeisa City, Somaliland. A school-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 630 primary school adolescents from December 2021 to March 2022. Students were selected using a multistage sampling technique. An interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect data on household food security and socio-demographic variables and entered into Epi data version 3.1. The data was exported to SPSS version 26 for descriptive and multivariable logistic regression analysis. Odds ratios and their 95% confidence intervals together with p <0.05 were utilized to declare statistical significance. The prevalence of food insecurity among school adolescents was 59.21%. The majority (55.40%) of the school adolescents were poor academic performers. The frequency of adolescents' poor academic performance was significantly high (71.05%) among food insecure households (P < 0.001) as compared to their counterparts whose households were food secure (32.68%). On multivariable analysis, household food insecurity (AOR = 5.24, 95%CI = 3.17-8.65), school absenteeism (AOR = 3.49, 95%CI = 2.20-5.53), spending >2h/day watching TV / screen media use (AOR = 9.08, 95%CI = 4.81-17.13), high and middle wealth households (AOR = 0.51, 95%CI = 0.30-0.88) (AOR = 0.40, 95%CI = 0.21-0.76) and habitual breakfast consumption (AOR = 0.08, 95%CI = 0.03-0.20) had shown statistically significant association with academic performance among primary school adolescents. The present study revealed that household food insecurity has a high association with adolescents' academic performance. The prevalence of food insecurity is moderate, based on the household food insecurity access scale. The results indicate the need for policies and programs intended to improve household income by developing income-generation programs for lower-income families and enhance feeding programs such as national school lunch and school feeding across schools in the country.

Chronobiology of nutrition and cognitive function

AbstractCurrent literature on the association between nutrition and cognitive function has focused mainly on total daily dietary intake of nutrients, foods or dietary patterns, while there has been much less focus on the timing of intake, i.e. the distribution of intake throughout the day and/or during specific eating occasions. Meal timing interferes with the circadian clocks and it has been previously linked with several health outcomes, including obesity and glycemic control. At the same time, there are well established circadian rhythms in cognitive performance in humans, with worse performance in the early morning and late evening and best performance somewhere in the middle of the daytime.Literature of the chronobiology of nutrition (chrononutrition) in relation to cognitive function and decline is extremely limited and to a certain extend conflicting. For example, breakfast consumption has been associated with decreased odds of having Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) in some studies, while, according to other studies, individuals with Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) and MCI tend to prefer early (rather than late) day times for food intake. Overall, there is very little research on the effect on cognitive function of time of day or energy content or nutrient distribution of the consumed meals. Furthermore, even though certain biomarkers of neurodegeneration are known to exhibit circadian properties, their associations with aspects of chrononutrition have not been explored.In conclusion, there is growing interest in the field of chrononutrition, an emerging area of investigation that is revealing important insights into how the timing of meals and overall eating patterns can impact cognitive function in humans. Part of the reason that this field is still in its infancy is that not all methods of dietary assessment are suitable for such analyses: only the laborious and time‐consuming methods of 24h dietary recalls or food records, that collect information on the timing of each eating occasion, allow for the evaluation of intake (nutrient of foods) distribution during the day.Overall, much more investigational effort is needed to fully understand the mechanisms underlying potential associations of chrononutrition and cognition and to develop practical recommendations for maintaining cognitive health through dietary interventions.