Relation between physical fitness and frequency of breakfast consumption among Chinese Han college students / 中国学校卫生

ABSTRACT

Objective@#To examine the relation between physical fitness and frequency of having breakfast among Chinese Han college students so as to provide proper intervention and theoretical basis for improving college students’ physical fitness.@*Methods@#The data from 2014 Chinese National Survey on Students’ Constitution and Health (CNSSCH) was used. The data of 47 172 Han students were calculated, the chi-square test wasused to compare the differences of the physical fitness passing rate in different subgroups of college students. The Log-binomial model was established to assess the relation between physical fitness and breakfast consumption.@*Results@#The unqualified rate of physical fitness was 22.8%. Boys(24.7%), urban students (25.7%), and those who exercised less than one hour per day (23.3%) had lower physical fitness passing rates than girls(20.9%), rural students (19.9%) and those who exercised more than one hour per day (20.3%)respectively(χ2=101.38, 223.33, 32.20,P<0.01). The unqualified rate of physical fitness increased by age. The unqualified rate of physical fitness in eastern, central and western regions was 21.2%, 21.7% and 25.1% respectively. The unqualified rate of physical fitness for those with normal nutritional status (18.2%) was significantly lower than those who were underweight (26.0%) or overweight/obese(42.6%)(χ2=1 660.50, P<0.01). In this study, 53.2% of college students had breakfast every day,unqualified rate of physical fitness was higher among students with less regular consumption of breakfast(χ2=393.50, P<0.01). The Log-binomial model showed that the college students who had 3-5 breakfasts(PR=1.16, 95%CI=1.11-1.20), 1-2 breakfasts(PR=1.34, 95%CI=1.28-1.40), never had breakfast (PR=1.43, 95%CI=1.32-1.53) per week had higher physical fitness failure rates than those who had breakfast every day.@*Conclusion@#There is a significant association between physical fitness and breakfast consumption among college students. Developing the good habit of having breakfast is not only the component of healthy lifestyle but also an indispensable part to the improvement of college students’ physical fitness.