Determination of breakfast habits, food pattern and quality among adults

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Adult individuals have a high frequency of skipping breakfast and the breakfast food pattern is insufficient. There is a relationship between breakfast and abdominal obesity and Body Mass Index. OBJECTIVE: This is a descriptive research study was to determine the breakfast habits, and the food pattern and quality of working adults. METHODS: The population of this research consists of 137 individuals. Demographic information, nutritional status, breakfast habits, frequency of consumption of foods, physical activity levels, 24-hour dietary records for two consecutive days (weekday and weekend) and anthropometric measurements were determined and recorded. RESULTS: A total of 67.2% adults were skipping breakfast. Individuals skipping breakfast every day had frequent complaints of fatigue (64.9%) and weakness (47.3%) (p < 0.05). A significant difference was found between weekdays and weekends in respect of energy, macronutrients, micronutrients, cholesterol intake (p < 0.05). The daily energy requirement was met by breakfast at 32.0±12.3% in males, 30.8±10.9% in females. Statistically insignificant differences were determined between the anthropometric measurements of individuals and skipping breakfast every day (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Skipping breakfast has been associated with some health complaints. The breakfast quality index scores of the subjects in this study were of medium quality.