DIFFERENCES IN THE BREAKFAST HABITS OF OVERWEIGHT OBESE AND NORMAL-WEIGHT SCHOOLCHILDREN/

The aim of the present study was to analyse the differences between th e breakfast habits of obese/overweight (O) (those with body mass index [BMI] above the 75th percentile) and normal weight schoolchildren (N) (those with BMI equal to or below the 75th percentile). A seven conse cutive days ''food record'' was used to record the intake of foods at breakfast and throughout the rest of the day. O subjects, and in parti cular female O subjects, omitted breakfast more frequently and took si gnificantly smaller quantities of cereals than did N subjects. The ene rgy supplied by breakfast, measured as a percentage of energy expendit ure, was significantly lower in O subjects (17.0+/-8.5% in males and 1 4.6+/-6.1% in females) than in N subjects (20.9+/-9.4% in males and 17 .6+/-6.5% in females). With respect to the energy and nutrients suppli ed by breakfast, O subjects took lower quantities of carbohydrates, th iamin, niacin, pyridoxine, vitamin D and iron than did N subjects. The energy profiles of O subject breakfasts were more imbalanced than tho se of N subjects. A significant difference was seen between the amount s of energy supplied by carbohydrates. Without doubt, O subjects have less satisfactory breakfast habits than N subjects. This might be a re flection of a whole diet that is less adequate, however, it is possibl e that an inadequate breakfast contributes to the making of poor food choices over the rest of the day, and, in the long term, to an increas ed risk of obesity.