ProNurse

By Graham Grant

As generations of mothers have reminded their children, breakfast is the most important meal of the day.

Yet, ironically, girls are more likely than boys to skip it entirely, a survey has revealed.

Researchers at the University of Edinburgh found that 15-year- old girls were almost 30 per cent more likely to miss out breakfast than their male classmates.

Young girls who bypass breakfast may be trying to stay slim in the manner of celebrities such as Gwyneth Paltrow.

The actress revealed last year that she keeps in shape by giving up a proper breakfast and lunch – as her diet allows her just one main meal a day.

The survey, carried out in 300 schools across Scotland and funded by the NHS, questioned 6,400 pupils from P7, S2 and S4.

It concluded that pupils who eat breakfast every day were more likely to rate their school performance as ‘good or very good’ and their health as ‘good or excellent’.

The study also found that pupils who skip breakfast every day are more likely to consume daily sugary drinks and snack-type foods, such as sweets and crisps.

Although 15-year-old boys are more likely to eat breakfast than girls every day on school days, the survey showed a gradual decrease in breakfast consumption as children grow older.

Some 58 per cent of boys and 44.8 per cent of girls consume breakfast at 15, compared with 79.3 per cent and 75.3 per cent of 11- year-old boys and girls respectively.

But the study also found that girls were more likely to eat fruit and vegetables than boys – and that boys are more likely to opt for chips, biscuits and white bread.

However, there are no gender differences in the consumption of sweets or crisps, with about a quarter of 11-15-year-olds consuming them daily.

Researchers also found a link between the consumption of fruit or vegetables and participation in physical activity.

Among both boys and girls, those eating fruit or vegetables at least once a day are more likely to take part in some form of physical activity every day than those eating them less than once a day.

Researcher Jo Kirby, of the University of Edinburgh’s Child and Adolescent Health Research Unit, said: ‘This paper highlights the importance of young people’s nutrition in relation to well-being, positive health behaviours and school performance.

‘Gender and age differences are apparent in food choices, with young people already engaging in less healthy eating patterns appearing to be most at risk.

’Interventions to promote breakfast consumption and fruit and vegetable intake should especially be targeted at adolescents in Scotland.’

The survey was part of a wider Health Behaviour in School-aged Children study, an international survey by the World Health Organisation involving more than 40 countries in Europe and the U.S. In a separate study last year, researchers found some wholegrain breakfast cereals – thought healthy due to their high fibre content – are also a source of polyphenols.

Polyphenols in fruit and vegetables are thought to help reduce the risk of heart disease, cancer and other diseases.

Dr Joe Vinson, who led the U.S. study, said early research indicated fibre was behind the health benefits, ‘but recently polyphenols emerged as potentially more important’.

Originally published by By Graham Grant Home Affairs Editor.

© 2010 Daily Mail; London (UK). Provided by ProQuest LLC. All rights Reserved.

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