Breakfast intake is associated with higher dietary diversity score, weight satisfaction and lower body mass index in girl adolescents

To evaluate the association of breakfast intake with micro and macro nutrients intake, dietary diversity score (DDS), food group consumption and body mass index (BMI) in girl students.
Research Methods & Procedures: A total of 384 female students (aged 15 to 19 years) were recruited from high-schools of Tehran using stratified sampling. Information regarding frequency of breakfast consumption was collected by asking questions on a three-point scale of “always”, “sometimes” and “never”. Physical activity and DDS were measured by International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), Dietary Diversity Questionnaire (FAO-2013), respectively. In addition, weight, height and waist circumference (WC) were measured and body mass index (BMI) was calculated as weight (kg) per height squared (m2). In the present study, 49.5% of girls always consumed breakfast; 34.4% sometimes and 16.1% never consumed breakfast. Skipping breakfast was significantly associated with higher BMI and weight dissatisfaction (p≤0.05). Adolescents who were daily consumers of breakfast had higher intake of energy and carbohydrate (p˂0.05). They had also higher intake of saturated fatty acids, cholesterol, linoleic acid, folate, manganese and fluoride after adjustment for energy intake (p˂0.05). After adjustment for energy and BMI, DDS was significantly higher for adolescents with daily breakfast consumption compared to other groups(p=0.03). Further, percentage of participants consuming egg, milk and dairy, fruits and vegetables rich in vitamin A was higher in daily breakfast eaters compared to other groups (p˂0.05). Eating breakfast may associate with higher diet quality as well as weight control in female adolescents.