Impact of breakfast consumption on nutritional adequacy or the diets of young adults in Bogalusa, Louisiana: Ethnic and gender contrasts

Objective To evaluate the impact of breakfast consumption patterns on the n utritional adequacy of diets of young adults and determine possible ethnic and gender differences. Design and setting Cross-sectional surrey of young adults in Bogalusa, La. Subjects Twenty-four-hour dietary recalls were collected from October 1988 through October 1991 on 504 young adults (mean age=23 years, 58% women, 70% white). Statistics Analysis of variance and logistic regression techniques were use d to investigate the relationship of breakfast consumption, ethnicity, and gender on dietary adequacy. The P values are from an analysis of Variance m odel that adjusted for gender and ethnicity. Results Thirty-seven percent of young adults skipped breakfast. Of those wh o ate breakfast, 75% ale at; home, 10% ate a fast-food breakfast, and 15% r eported other sources. Mean energy intake from breakfast was 485 kcal; men consumed more energy than women (P<.001), and blacks consumed more energy t han whites (P<.01). The breakfast meal provided an average of 13% of energy from protein, 55% fron carbohydrate, 14% from sucrose, 34% from fat, and 1 2% from saturated fat. Whites consumed a breakfast higher in carbohydrate a nd sucrose than blacks, who consumed a breakfast higher in fat and saturate d fat. Variations in breakfast foods consumed explained the racial differen ces in the nutrient composition of the breakfast meal. Young adults who ski pped breakfast had lower total daily intakes of energy (P<.0001), protein p er 1,000 kcal (P<.05), and saturated fat per 1,000 kcal (P<.01) than those who consumed breakfast. For all vitamins and minerals studied, a higher per centage of young adults who skipped breakfast did not meet two thirds of th e Recommended Dietary Allowance than those who consumed a breakfast. Applications Encouraging consumption of breakfast, along with selection of more healthful breakfast food choices or snacks that are culturally appropr iate, may be important strategies for improving the nutritional duality of young adults' diets.