Association between Frequency of Breakfast Eating and Obesity in Korean Adolescents

Abstract

Background: The purpose of this study was to examine whether the frequency of breakfast eating was related with overweight/obesity in Korean adolescents.
Method: We analyzed the data collected in the 5^th KYRBWS, in which 72,399 adolescents participated in 2009. We assessed the association between frequency of breakfast eating and body mass index by using multivariate logistic regression analysis.
Results: A total of 20,962(54.9%) boys and 18,479(54.0%) girls skipped breakfast 7 days(all days) per week at baseline. For boys, the odds ratios(ORs) between being overweight and frequency of breakfast eating were 1.040 for 3-5 times per week, 1.092 for 1-2 time(s) per week, 1.059 for no breakfast per week, compared to 6-7 times per week(p>0.05). The ORs between being obese and frequency of breakfast eating were 1.011 for 3-5 times per week, 0.968 for 1-2 time(s) per week, and 0.932 for no breakfast per week, compared to 6-7 times per week(p>0.05). For girls, the ORs between being overweight and frequency of breakfast eating were 0.990 for 3-5 times per week, 0.992 for 1-2 time(s) per week, 1.019 for no breakfast per week, compared to 6-7 times per week(p>0.05). The ORs between being obese and frequency of breakfast eating were 1.075 for 3-5 times per week, 0.946 for 1-2 time(s) per week, and 0.941 for no breakfast per week, compared to 6-7 times per week(p>0.05).
Conclusion: The frequency of breakfast eating has no correlation with overweight/obesity in Korean adolescents.