Evaluation of Energy and Nutrient Intake as well as Dietary Behaviors in Elementary School and Middle School Students Residing in Chungnam according to Breakfast Eating Status

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the dietary behaviors as well as energy and nutrient intake in elementary and middle school students according to breakfast eating status. The survey was conducted using questionnaires and dietary records among 191 elementary school students and 280 middle school students residing in Chungnam. The subjects were divided into two groups according to frequency of eating breakfast breakfast skipping (frequency of eating breakfast under 4 times/week) and breakfast eating (frequency of eating breakfast over 5 times/week). The rate of breakfast skipping was 27.2% for the elementary school students and 31.1% for the middle school students. The breakfast skipping group had a significantly lower frequency of having dinner, a lower proportion of eating at regular meal times, and a significantly higher frequency of leaving food after meals than the breakfast eating group for both elementary and middle school students. In the case of the elementary students, there was a significant difference in carbohydrate intake between the two groups. In the case of the middle school students, the intakes of energy, protein, carbohydrate, dietary fiber, vitamin A, vitamin B2, niacin, vitamin B6, folate, vitamin C, Ca, and Fe in the breakfast skipping group were significantly lower than those in the breakfast eating group. These results show that nutrient deficiencies among breakfast skipping individuals cannot be compensated for at the other meals during the day in middle school-aged adolescents whose nutrient requirements are high for growth. Therefore, in support of proper dietary management, it is necessary to promote and support breakfast eating in adolescents.