TRENDS IN BREAKFAST CONSUMPTION OF US ADULTS BETWEEN 1965 AND 1991

Objective To examine breakfast consumption patterns and trends between 1965 and 1991 for adults in the United States. Design Trends analysis pooling three cross-sectional surveys. Setting Nationally representat ive samples obtained from the Nationwide Food Consumption Survey (NFCS ) of 1965, the NFCS of 1977-1978, and the 1989-1991 Continuing Survey of Food Intakes by individuals. Subjects Adults aged 18 years and olde r: 6,274 in 1965, 18,033 in 1977-1978, and 10,812 in 1989-1991. ALL re sults reflect use of sampling weights, so results reflect nationally r epresentative samples in each time period. Main outcome measures Break fast consumption, defined as the consumption of food and/or beverage b etween the hours of 5 AM and 9 AM, was the focus of the trends analysi s. Population prevalence rates are reported for the entire population and population subgroups. Statistical analysis performed Probit analys is was used to identify factors associated with changes in breakfast c onsumption over time. Results Breakfast consumption declined in the 26 -year period between 1965 and 1991 from 86% to 75% for US adults. Brea kfast consumption increased with age, and the age differential increas ed over time. Urban-rural and South-non-South differences in breakfast consumption narrowed over time, whereas black-nonblack and college-no ncollege differences increased slightly or remained constant. The nutr itional quality of food consumed at breakfast has improved since 1965. Conclusions Although part of the decline in breakfast consumption can be explained by personal and demographic determinants, other unknown f actors contributed to the trends, Elucidation of such factors is neces sary to predict differences in breakfast as a health-related behavior.