Background

There is growing recognition of the important role of breakfast in children’s nutrition, and the potential harms related to skipping breakfast, including contributing to obesity and non-communicable diseases. The patterns associated with skipping breakfast may be related to the nutrition transition. This study aims to explore the prevalence of skipping breakfast among Palestinian schoolchildren, the sociodemographic and behavioural patterns associated with skipping breakfast, and the reasons and perceptions around it, in addition to the composition of breakfast consumed.

Methods

We undertook a cross-sectional online questionnaire of 12- to 14-year-old schoolchildren from 4 governmental schools in urban and rural areas of the Jenin district of Palestine, collecting information about children’s and parents’ characteristics and behaviours, breakfast patterns and composition, reasons for skipping breakfast, and perceptions around breakfast. Statistical analysis of the relevant factors was undertaken using SPSS software.

Results

In a sample of 193 schoolchildren, only 32% reported consuming breakfast all-year round. The main reasons reported for skipping breakfast were not feeling hungry, not having the time, and lack of appetite. The vast majority (79%) believed breakfast was beneficial for general health. Sleeping before 10pm, regular exercise, and shorter screen time were all associated with a higher level of breakfast consumption.

Conclusion

Understanding the reasons for missing breakfast, and the factors which make skipping it more likely, should inform public health strategies to promote breakfast consumption. For example, our findings suggest that awareness of the importance of breakfast was not a significant contributor to skipping breakfast, compared to other structural and cultural factors.

العنوان

BMC Nutrition

الناشر

Research square

بلد الناشر

المملكة المتحدة

Indexing

Thomson Reuters

معامل التأثير

1,5

نوع المنشور

إلكتروني فقط

المجلد

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السنة

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الصفحات

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