Frequency Of Breakfast Research Articles

Breakfast Eating and Weight Change in a 5-Year Prospective Analysis of Adolescents: Project EAT (Eating Among Teens)

Breakfast-eating frequency declines through adolescence and has been inversely associated with body weight in cross-sectional studies, with few prospective studies on this topic. This study was conducted to examine the association between breakfast frequency and 5-year body weight change in 2216 adolescents. Project EAT (Eating Among Teens) was a 5-year longitudinal study of eating patterns and weight concerns among adolescents. Surveys were completed in 1998-1999 (time 1) and 2003-2004 (time 2). Multivariable linear regression was used to examine the association between breakfast frequency and change in BMI, with adjustment for age, socioeconomic status, race, physical activity, time 1 BMI and breakfast category, and time 1 dietary and weight-related variables. At time 1, frequency of breakfast was directly associated with intake of carbohydrate and fiber, socioeconomic status, white race, and physical activity and inversely associated with smoking and alcohol consumption and dieting and weight-control behaviors. In cross-sectional analyses at times 1 and 2, inverse associations between breakfast frequency and BMI remained largely independent of all of the confounding and dietary factors. Weight-related factors (concerns, behaviors, and pressures) explained little of the breakfast-BMI association. In prospective analyses, frequency of breakfast was inversely associated with BMI in a dose-response manner. Further adjustment for confounding and dietary factors did not seem to explain the association, but adjustment for weight-related variables seemed to partly explain this finding. Although experimental studies are needed to verify whether the association between breakfast and body weight is of a causal nature, our findings support the importance of promoting regular breakfast consumption among adolescents. Future studies should further examine the role of breakfast habits among youth who are particularly concerned about their weight.

三交代勤務開始前に女性労働者の間に生じる勤務への不安 : FSHスタディー

In 1999, the Japanese Law on Equal Employment Opportunity and Conditions was amended and the previous prohibition of the assignment of female workers to night work was abolished. Subsequently, the number of female shift workers has been increasing in Japan, necessitating greater attention to the health care of this population. The aim of the current study is to evaluate the relationship between anxiety expressed about starting three-shift work and background characteristics among female workers who were being assigned to three-shift work for the first time. The subjects were 38 middle-aged female workers (age range: 44 to 59 years) who were working at a chemical plant. The women completed a self-administered questionnaire before starting three-shift work. Levels of anxiety about starting three-shift work were assessed by the question 'Do you feel anxious about starting three-shift work?' The available responses were: 'Very agree', 'Considerably agree', 'Rather agree', 'Slightly agree' and 'Not agree at all', and 63% of the subjects gave one of the first two answers, which were defined as indicating anxiety. We also acquired information regarding lifestyle and occupation for each subject, including the following factors: frequency of breakfast consumption, subjective sleep insufficiency, previous experience of similar work before beginning shift work, previous experience of two-shift work, and responsibility for household duties. In the study, we found a marginally statistically significant trend association between frequent breakfast consumption and anxiety about starting three-shift work (P(trend) = 0.09). Anxiety was also high among subjects with sleep disorders, especially those suffering from subjective sleep insufficiency (P = 0.08). Due to the small study population, these results should be interpreted with caution and confirmed by future studies.

걷기운동과 행동수정 프로그램이 비만여중생의 체조성, 체력 및 대사증후군 관련인자에 미치는 영향

비만 여중생을 대상으로 하여 12주간 행동수정 프로그램을 포함한 걷기운동을 실시한 결과 비만 여중생의 체조성, 체력, 대사증후군의 유병률 및 대사증후군 위험인자에서 긍정적인 변화를 가져오는 것을 확인하였다. 또한 다중선형회 귀분석 결과 체조성의 상완위팔근육둘레, 허리둘레, 신체발달지수, 체수분, 체지방량의 개선과 체력의 50m달리기 향상이 BMI, WHR, HDL-C, 공복혈당, 수축기혈압, HOMA지수를 개선시킬 수 있는 것으로 나타나 유산소성 걷기운동과 행동수정 프로그램에 의한 식사량조절과 식습관 변화가 비만청소년에 있어서 대사증후군에 의한 심혈관질환과 당뇨병, 심리적 우울증에 효과적인 프로그램이 될 수 있다고 생각된다. 그러나 피험자 수가 적고, 실험기간이 짧아 실험결과를 일반화하기에는 주의가 필요하며, 실험이후에 학생들의 지속적 운동 습관을 유지하기 위한 프로그램의 개발이 필요하다고 생각된다. The purpose of this study was to provide obese middle school girls with walking and behavior modification program(WBMP) by investigating effects of the exercise on their body composition(BC), physical fitness(PF) and metabolic syndrome(MS). Analysis result of the difference between before and after the exercise(paired and independent t-test) was acquired by measuring BC, PF and MS for 12 weeks(60min/day, three a week). 24 Volunteers were 14 years over <TEX>${\geq}223.64kg/m^2$</TEX> and 15 years over <TEX>${\geq}24.00kg/m^2$</TEX>. In the body composition, waist circumference(WC), body fat mass(BFM), %fat, arm muscle circumference(AMC), total body water(TBW), physical score(PS) were significant difference between the exercise group(EG) and the control group(CG), also including all factors in PF. The components of metabolic syndrome were significant difference between EG and CG, but HDL-C, systolic & diastolic blood pressure were no difference. The metabolic syndrome factors by separate of waist girth were no difference between EG and CG, but BMI, diastolic blood pressure were significant difference. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 4 of 24(16.7%) before intervention, but it dropped from 2 to 1 after intervention in WBMP. The components of metabolic syndrome was distributed a big WC>low HDL-C>high TG>hypertension. The changes of AMC, We, PS, BW, 50m run and BFM effect the factors on BMI(35%), WHR(waist-hip ratio, 69%), HDL-C(42%), fasting blood glucose(65%), HOMA-IR index(34%) and systolic blood pressure(39%) respectively. There were significantly increased in breakfast frequency, walking steps, and meal eating period, but decreased in snacks and eating out in exercise group.

Skipping breakfast, alcohol consumption and physical inactivity as risk factors for overweight and obesity in adolescents: results of the E-MOVO project

To investigate the association between skipping breakfast, alcohol consumption and physical inactivity with overweight and obesity in adolescents. The design comprises cross-sectional electronic health survey (E-MOVO). Over 35 000 Dutch adolescents in grade 2 (13-14 years of age) and grade 4 (15-16 years of age) of secondary educational schools were recruited by seven community health services. Analyses were performed on 25 176 adolescents. Body mass index was calculated from self-reported body weight and height. Frequency of skipping breakfast per week, amount of alcoholic drinks consumed per occasion, and numbers of physical active days per week were considered as determinants for overweight and obesity. In grade 2, adjusted odds ratios for the association with overweight were 2.17 (95% CI: 1.66-2.85) for skipping breakfast, 1.86 (1.36-2.55) for alcohol consumption and 1.73 (1.19-2.51) for physical inactivity. Statistically significant associations with overweight were also found in grade 4. In grade 2, dose-response relations (P for trend <0.05) were present between all risk factors and overweight. In a multivariate model containing all risk factors, breakfast skipping showed the strongest relation with overweight (OR 1.68, 95% CI 1.43-1.97 for grade 2, OR 1.32 95% CI 1.14-1.54 for grade 4) and obesity. Skipping breakfast, alcohol consumption and physical inactivity were associated with overweight in second and fourth grade adolescents. The associations were strongest for younger adolescents. The most important risk factor for overweight and obesity was skipping breakfast.

Breakfast Frequency and Quality in the Etiology of Adult Obesity and Chronic Diseases

The frequency of eating breakfast has declined over the past several decades, during which time the obesity epidemic has also unfolded. Therefore, there is growing scientific interest in the possible causal role of breakfast in weight control and related disease risks. We conducted a MedLine search for studies that addressed meal frequency, breakfast consumption, and chronic disease risk. Clinical studies document that regular meal consumption can potentially reduce the risk of obesity and chronic disease through mechanisms involved in energy balance and metabolism. Many observational studies have found that breakfast frequency is inversely associated with obesity and chronic disease, but this literature does have some important limitations. Only four relatively small and short-term randomized trials have examined breakfast consumption and body weight or chronic disease risk, with mixed results. Large, long-term, randomized trials are needed.

Food and Weight-Related Patterns and Behaviors of Hmong Adolescents

Objective Little is known about the food and weight-related behaviors of Hmong adolescents. This study assessed these behaviors in Hmong adolescents and determined if they differed between Hmong and white teens or by country of birth. Design School-based cross-sectional study. Subjects/setting Hmong (n=649) and white (n=2,260) adolescents from 31 public middle and high schools in the Minneapolis/St Paul, MN, metropolitan area who participated in Project EAT (Eating Among Teens). Main outcome measures Family meals, grocery shopping, and meal preparation; consumption of breakfast, snacks, and fast foods, physical activity and inactivity; body satisfaction, weight concern, body mass index, and weight-control behaviors. Statistical analyses performed Variables were compared across race/ethnicity and by country of birth using χ 2 tests and general linear model regression. Results Hmong students reported greater participation in family meals and more involvement with food purchasing and preparation. Fast-food consumption was similar among groups. Hmong teens reported less frequent breakfast consumption. The prevalence of overweight was higher in Hmong male adolescents than white male adolescents, but similar among female adolescents. Hmong students reported higher levels of weight concern, body dissatisfaction, dieting, unhealthful weight-control behaviors, less physical activity, and more inactivity than white students. Hmong male adolescents participated in extreme unhealthful weight-control behaviors four times more often than white male adolescents. Conclusions Hmong adolescents appear to be at increased risk for obesity, body dissatisfaction, and unhealthful weight-control behaviors compared to white adolescents. There is a need for culturally tailored interventions to address these nutrition and weight issues among Hmong adolescents.

Nutritional surveillance in Tuscany: eating habits at breakfast, mid-morning and afternoon snacks among 8-9 y-old children.

The prevalence of overweight and obesity in children is rapidly increasing in many countries. For that it has been interesting to investigate the eating habits of 8-9 y-old Tuscany children by paying attention to their meals frequency per day and their food choices in total and in relation to children's Body Mass Index (BMI) classes. In addition we considered some environment factors that could affect the children eating behaviours, such as mother's BMI and their education level. A statistical sample of 3076 (1583 males, 1493 females), 8-9 year-old school-children was collected; weight and height were measured using standardized personnel and instruments. BMI classes were calculated using Cole et al.'s cutoff for children and adolescents. In order to evaluate the consumption frequency of individual meals and various foods, a Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) was used, which was completed by the children themselves at school. A self-administered questionnaire revealed the weight and height of parents and their educational levels. Three educational levels were established: high, medium and low. The results showed that 92.3% of children ate breakfast from 4-7 times a week, the vast majority at home, while only 3% declared consuming breakfast never or almost never The most preferred breakfast consisted of milk and biscuits for all children's BMI classes. 95.9% of children reported having midmorning snack at school; fruit juice and tea are the most frequently consumed liquid foods, and pizza, salami sandwiches and pre-packaged snacks are the most frequently consumed solid foods in all BMI classes. 93.6% ate afternoon snack for the most part at home, even if 12% of children reported consuming it elsewhere; fruit juice and tea with pizza, sandwiches and pre-packaged snacks are still the most highly consumed foods by all children's BMI classes. The consumption frequency of breakfast (P < 0.001), mid-morning (P < 0.05) and afternoon snack (P < 0.05) of 8-9 y-old Tuscany children decrease with increase the children's BMI classes. The same tendency may be noted for the consumption frequency of breakfast in relation to mother's BMI (P < 0.05) and their education level (P < 0.05). This data strengthens the thesis that some home environments can affect the children's eating behaviours. No substantial differences in food choices at the meals analyzed were determined among normal weight, overweight and obese children. Children of normal weight had a greater tendency to consume meals more regularly. Mother's BMI and their education level can have influence on children's eating behaviours.

Breakfast frequency and fruit and vegetable consumption in Belgian adolescents A cross‐sectional study

Purpose – Several cross‐sectional studies reported that breakfast skipping and a poor consumption of fruits and vegetables are associated with overweight and obesity‐related morbidities. In this respect healthy eating habits such as regular breakfast and a sufficient intake of fruit and vegetables are two important items to prevent childhood and adolescent obesity. The purpose of this study is to determine the breakfast frequency and the fruit and vegetable consumption in Belgian adolescents.Design/methodology/approach – A cross‐sectional study using pupils contacted by nurses in schools during an information session about female hygiene. On that occasion all pupils (boys and girls) completed a questionnaire concerning their eating habits. Subjects were boys (n = 1390) and girls (n = 3610) between 12 and 15 years of age from the main three educational programmes (general, technical and occupational programme).Findings – Socio‐economic status significantly influenced breakfast frequency with differences be...

Why do adolescents eat what they eat? Personal and social environmental predictors of fruit, snack and breakfast consumption among 12– 14-year-old Dutch students

The aim of the study was to investigate the relative importance of personal and social environmental predictors of the consumption of fruit, high-fat snacks and breakfast. A school-based cross-sectional survey. Data were collected through written questionnaires. Students from eight schools in the southern part of The Netherlands. Six hundred and one students from preparatory secondary vocational education schools. About a quarter of the variation in actual behaviours and intentions to change the behaviours could be explained. Stepwise multiple regression analysis revealed that, for all three behaviours, higher intention to change was especially associated with a more positive attitude and subjective norm, and higher intentions to increase fruit intake with more positive self-efficacy expectations. With regard to actual consumption, a more positive attitude towards eating fruit was the only significant correlate of a higher consumption of fruit. A more positive attitude towards eating high-fat snacks, perceived lower intake of the mother, and higher food availability and accessibility were associated with consumption of high-fat snacks, and a more positive attitude to breakfast more frequently was associated with more frequent breakfast consumption. The results indicate that adolescents' attitudes are the most important determinants of different health-related eating behaviours and intentions to change. Interventions promoting a healthy diet for adolescents should include creative strategies to achieve positive associations with healthy dietary changes.

The Relationship of Breakfast and Cereal Consumption to Nutrient Intake and Body Mass Index: The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Growth and Health Study

Objective To describe changes in breakfast and cereal consumption of girls between ages 9 and 19 years, and to examine the association of breakfast and cereal intake with body mass index (BMI) and consumption of nutrients. Design Data from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Growth and Health Study, a longitudinal biracial observational cohort study with annual 3-day food records. Subjects/Setting The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Growth and Health Study recruited 2,379 girls (1,166 white and 1,213 black), ages 9 and 10 years at baseline, from locations in the Berkeley, CA; Cincinnati, OH; and Washington, DC, areas. Main Outcome Measures Frequency of consumption of breakfast (including cereal vs other foods) and cereal; BMI; and dietary fat, fiber, calcium, cholesterol, iron, folic acid, vitamin C, and zinc. Statistical Analyses Generalized estimating equations methodology was used to examine differences in the frequency of breakfast and cereal eating by age. Generalized estimating equations and mixed models were used to examine whether breakfast and cereal consumption were predictive of BMI and nutrient intakes, adjusting for potentially confounding variables. Results Frequency of breakfast and cereal consumption decreased with age. Days eating breakfast were associated with higher calcium and fiber intake in all models, regardless of adjustment variables. After adjusting for energy intake, cereal consumption was related to increased intake of fiber, calcium, iron, folic acid, vitamin C, and zinc, and decreased intake of fat and cholesterol. Days eating cereal was predictive of lower BMI. Conclusions Cereal consumption as part of an overall healthful lifestyle may play a role in maintaining a healthful BMI and adequate nutrient intake among adolescent girls.

Breakfast Consumption by African-American and White Adolescent Girls Correlates Positively with Calcium and Fiber Intake and Negatively with Body Mass Index

Objective To describe age- and race-related differences in breakfast consumption and to examine the association of breakfast intake with dietary calcium and fiber and body mass index (BMI). Design Data from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Growth and Health Study, a 9-year, longitudinal biracial cohort study with annual 3-day food records. Subjects/setting The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Growth and Health Study recruited 2,379 girls (1,166 white and 1,213 African American), aged 9 or 10 years at baseline for an observational study. Retention rates were very high at visits two through four (96%, 94%, and 91%), but declined to a low of 82% at visit seven, and increased to 89% at visit 10. Main outcome measures Frequency of breakfast consumption, dietary calcium and fiber, and BMI. Statistical analyses Generalized estimation equations methodology was used to examine differences in the frequency of breakfast eating by age and race. Generalized estimation equations analyses were also conducted to test whether breakfast consumption was predictive of intake of dietary calcium and fiber, and BMI, adjusting for potentially confounding effects of site, age, race, parental education, physical activity, and total energy intake. Results Frequency of breakfast eating declined with age, white girls reported more frequent breakfast consumption than African-American girls, and the racial difference decreased with increasing age. Days eating breakfast were associated with higher calcium and fiber intake in all models, regardless of adjustment variables. Days eating breakfast were predictive of lower BMI in models that adjusted for basic demographics (ie, site, age, and race), but the independent effect of breakfast was no longer significant after parental education, energy intake, and physical activity were added to the model. Conclusions Dietetics professionals need to promote the importance of consuming breakfast to all children and adolescents, especially African-American girls.

Overweight and obesity among Norwegian schoolchildren: Changes from 1993 to 2000

The aim of the present study was to investigate the prevalence rate of overweight and obesity in a nationwide survey of fourth- and eighth-grade Norwegian schoolchildren, the changes in overweight rates among eighth graders from 1993 to 2000, and to investigate factors associated with overweight. Cross-sectional dietary surveys were conducted on nationally representative samples of eighth graders in 1993, and among fourth and eighth graders in 2000. Self-reported weight and height was available from 1,650 eighth graders in 1993, and from 664 fourth and 825 eighth graders in 2000. Data on dietary pattern, social class, and physical activity were also available. In 2000 the prevalence of overweight and obesity among the fourth graders was 18.5% and 3.6%, respectively, and among the eighth graders 11.5% and 1.8%, respectively. A marked increase in overweight and obesity among Norwegian eighth graders from 1993 to 2000 was observed; the prevalence of overweight and obesity increased by 4 and 0.9 percentage points, respectively. Social class, time spent watching TV or in front of a computer, and breakfast frequency were associated with the odds of being overweight. An inverse relation between intake of sweets and overweight was observed. Validation studies demonstrated a high correlation between self-reported and measured height and weight in both age groups. The present study demonstrates a high prevalence of overweight and obesity among schoolchildren, especially among fourth graders in Norway. Moreover, the proportion of overweight and obese children has increased greatly among eighth graders during the last decade.

The dilemma

The dilemma

Longitudinal study of skipping breakfast and weight change in adolescents

Several cross-sectional studies reported that heavier children eat breakfast less often. However, no longitudinal studies have addressed whether skipping breakfast leads to excessive weight gain. To investigate whether skipping breakfast was prospectively associated with changes in body fatness. A cohort of >14000 boys and girls from all over the US, 9- to 14-y-old in 1996, returned annual mailed questionnaires (1996-1999) for the Growing Up Today Study. We analyzed change in body mass index (BMI; kg/m(2)) over three 1-y periods among children who reported breakfast frequency. Children who reported that they never eat breakfast had lower energy intakes than those who eat breakfast nearly every day. Children who were more physically active reported higher energy intakes, as did those who reported more time watching television/videos and playing videogames. Like previous studies, skipping breakfast was associated with overweight, cross-sectionally. However, overweight children who never ate breakfast lost BMI over the following year compared to overweight children who ate breakfast nearly every day (boys: -0.66 kg/m(2) (s.e.=0.22); girls: -0.50 kg/m(2) (s.e.=0.14)). But normal weight children who never ate breakfast gained weight relative to peers who ate breakfast nearly every day (boys: +0.21 kg/m(2) (s.e.=0.13); girls: +0.08 kg/m(2) (s.e.=0.05)). Breakfast frequency was positively correlated with self-reported quality of schoolwork. Overweight children who never eat breakfast may lose body fat, but normal weight children do not. Since numerous studies link skipping breakfast to poorer academics, children should be encouraged to eat breakfast.

The Relationship between Late Dinner and Breakfast Skipping Behavior

This paper attempts to find out causes of breakfast skipping behavior among Japanesewomen college students by examining their lifestyes including eating styles through aquestionnaire survey. The findings are as follows:1) About 35 percent of the respondents have dinner after 8:00 p.m., and 45 percent ofthem do so because of their part-time jobs. 40 percent of the women students eat dinnerat irregular times, and the later they eat, the more irregular their dinner time becomes.2) The students'lifetyles tend to be night-oriented: 86 percent of tnem go to bed aftermidnight, and the average students sleep for 6 hours and 29 minutes.3) Many of the students eat and/or drink after dinner, eat 70% and drink 92%;Tea andsnacks are most favored.4) 32 percent of the students wake up before 7:00 a. m., 43 percent between 7:00 a. m. and8:00 a. m., and 25 percent after 8:00 a. m. Those who eat breakfast erery day make up66 percent, 5 or 6 days per week 14 percent, and one through 4 days 15 percent respec-tively: 5% of the students do not eat breakfast at all. Those who eat breakfatst do so ap-proximately 20 minutes after waking up.5) Multiple comparisons among dinner time, regularity of eating dinner, sleeping hours, and frequency of cating breakfast show that late dinner time, irregularity of eating din-ner, and short sleeping hours all contribute to breakfast skipping behavior.6) 70 percent of their dinner contents consists only of main dishes and drinks, but fewstudents care much about nuturition.

Survey Regarding Sweet Taste Preference and Dietary Life of Male and Female Students

In order to investigate how the sweetness preference affects the situation and consciousness of dietary life among the younger generation, we surveyed male and female students (300 males, 298 females) using a questionaire. The results were as follows.1) As for the sweetness preference, “the intake frequency of sweet confectionery” was strongly correlated with each of the intake frequencies for six kinds of confectioneries. Also, the “favorite concentration of sweet drink” was strongly correlated with each preference degree for two kinds of sweet drinks.2) The at-home group showed a rather higher intake frequency for sweet confectionery, compared with the group living out of the house for both the male and female students. The sport activity group had a higher intake frequency for sweet drinks than the other groups, especially for the males.3) The “intake frequency of breakfast” was the lowest of the three meals. Especially, 41.3 % of the male students always skipped breakfast. Also for the males, the group that skipped breakfast had a lower intake frequency for sweet confectioneries and sweet drinks in addition to the meal than the group taking it every day.4) For the famales, it was significantly noted that the groups doing biased dieting had a lower intake frequency for sweet drinks and also that the groups thinking of a nutritional balance liked the thinner taste for sweet drinks.5) Based on an analysis using Hayashi's Quantification Method 1, the degree which the sweetness preference concerns the “degree of satisfaction of dietary life” wasn't as strong as much the “intake frequency of breakfast” and “nutritional balance” . The groups with a higher intake frequency for sweet confectionery had, if anything a lower degree for satisfaction for dietary life. Also, for the males, groups liking a thicker taste for sweet drinks and for the female, groups liking a rather thinner taste for sweet drinks had a higher degree for satisfaction for dietary life.

Trends in breakfast consumption for children in the United States from 1965-1991

We examined breakfast consumption patterns and trends between 1965 and 1991 for children (1-10 y old) and adolescents (11-18 y old) in the United States. The analysis was undertaken by pooling nationally representative samples obtained from the Nationwide Food Consumption Surveys of 1965 and 1977-1978 and the 1989-1991 Continuing Survey of Food Intakes by Individuals. Breakfast consumption, defined as the consumption of food, beverage, or both between 0500 and 1000, was the focus of the trends analysis. Descriptive results indicated a decline in breakfast consumption between 1965 and 1991, particularly for older adolescents aged 15-18 y; the rates for boys and girls declined from 89.7% and 84.4%, respectively, in 1965 to 74.9% and 64.7%, respectively, in 1991. Multivariate results indicated that breakfast consumption declined predominantly because of behavioral changes and not the population's changing sociodemographic patterns. The nutritional quality of foods consumed at breakfast has improved since 1965, with significant shifts toward consumption of lower-fat milk and smaller changes in other food groups. The improvement over time in the quality of food consumed at breakfast, however, is offset by the large percentage of persons aged > or = 11 y who do not presently consume breakfast. Given the association of obesity with less frequent breakfast consumption and the rise in obesity among persons of this age group, a renewed emphasis on the importance of breakfast is warranted.

生活活動量と運動習慣の違いが健康および生活習慣に及ぼす影響

This study aimed to examine the effects of physical activities, including daily physical activity and habitual physical exercise, on health and lifestyle and to seek the ways of promotion of health care. Five hundred male employees, aged 20 to 55 years old, were investigated for their health and lifestyle, and 259 of them were subject to examinations of serum lipids. The major findings were as follows. 1. Habitual physical exercise showed more effective results than daily physical activity, in terms of self-care for health, balance of food intake, subjective feel on health condition, increase in HDL cholesterol and decrease in an atherogenic index. Also found were a negative association between exercise duration and atherogenic index and a positive association between exercise intensity and subjective feel on health condition. 2. Increase of daily physical activity tended to trigger increase in the number of health complaints and decrease in frequency of breakfast taken but tended to decrease total cholesterol and triglyceride. When the physical activities were broken down, decrease of health complaints was related to decrease of sedentary activity and increases of walking and sleeping. It was thus suggested that grasp of physical activities by types, improvement of lifestyle such as the habit of taking breakfast and preparation of program for physical exercise played important roles in promotion of health care.

Breakfast cereal consumption patterns and nutrient intakes of British schoolchildren.

Breakfast cereals are nutrient-dense foods that are also low in fat. They could theoretically contribute to lowering the percentage energy from fat in the diet whilst enhancing the intake of certain nutrients. This project is based on a further analysis of dietary data (seven day weighed intakes) from 2705 British schoolchildren (DoH, 1989) and examines the relationship between breakfast cereal consumption and total daily nutrient intakes. The children were grouped according to amount of cereal consumed per day (none; less than 20 g; 20-40 g; over 40 g) and results examined for each age group (10-11 and 14-15 years) in boys and girls separately. For the nutrients examined there was a highly significant and graded increase in vitamin and mineral intake with increasing cereal consumption and a simultaneous reduction in energy from fat from 39-40% amongst non-consumers to 36-37% among children consuming a portion of cereal or more per day. Body mass index tended to be lower in the frequent breakfast cereal eaters. In conclusion, children who eat breakfast cereal tend to have more desirable nutrient intakes than those who do not.

A breakfast survey of primary schools in low income inner city areas of Southampton

This report describes the results of a survey of children's reported or perceived breakfast habits in seven primary schools serving low-income areas in Southampton during January-April 1993. Structured and semi- structured interviews were used. The two types of interview revealed a similar frequency of skipping breakfast, which was reported by 5.1 per cent in the entire sample of 935 children. The most common items apparently consumed at breakfast were cereal (68 per cent) usually with milk (61 per cent). Nearly a third of the children had sugar as well. Small numbers reported eating during the rest of the morning, most often in the mid-morning break when 447 (48 per cent) had a snack and 135 (14 per cent) had a drink. Striking differences were reported among the schools as to whether the children had a snack at all, and the type of snack. The importance of school's policies and practices should be explored further, as a potentially powerful force for achieving dietary behavioural change.