Author/Authors :
KELISHADI, Roya Dept. of Pediatrics - Child Growth and Development Research Center - Research Institute for Primordial Prevention of Non-communicable Disease - Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran , SHAHSANAI, Armindokht Dept. of Pediatrics - Child Growth and Development Research Center - Research Institute for Primordial Prevention of Non-communicable Disease - Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran , SHAMS, Behzad Dept. of Pediatrics - Child Growth and Development Research Center - Research Institute for Primordial Prevention of Non-communicable Disease - Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran , AHADI, Zeinab Chronic Diseases Research Center - Endocrinology and Metabolism Population Sciences Institute - Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , MOTLAGH, Mohammad-Esmaeil Dept. of Pediatrics - Ahvaz University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Ira , KASAEIAN, Amir Dept. of Epidemiology and Biostatistics - School of Public Health - Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , ARDALAN, Gelayol Dept. of Pediatrics - Child Growth and Development Research Center - Research Institute for Primordial Prevention of Non-communicable Disease - Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran , MADDADY, Zahra Dept. of Health Services Management - Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Ira , ASAYESH, Hamid Dept. of Medical Emergency - Qom University of Medical Sciences, Qom, Iran , QORBANI, Mostafa Dept. of Community Medicine - School of Medicine - Alborz University of Medical Science, Karaj, Iran , HESHMAT, Ramin Chronic Diseases Research Center - Endocrinology and Metabolism Population Sciences Institute - Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Abstract :
Background: This study aims to assess the pattern of meal frequency consumption of Iranian children and adoles-cents at national and subnational levels according to the socioeconomic status (SES) of the living region.
Methods: This multi-centric study was conducted in 2011-2012 among 14,880 students, aged 6-18 years, who were selected by multistage random cluster sampling from 30 provinces. Meal frequency was assessed by the World Health Organization Global School-based student Health Survey (WHO- GSHS) questionnaire. Data were compared at na-tional and sub-national levels according to the SES of the living region.
Results: Overall, 13486 students completed this study (participation rate: 90.6%). The frequency of breakfast, lunch, and dinner skipping was 32.08% (95% CI: 30.99, 33.2), 8.58% (95% CI: 7.71, 9.54), and 10.90% (95% CI: 10.21, 11.62), respectively. The frequency of consuming 1 meal, 2 meals, and 3 meals a day was 9.60% (95%CI: 8.94, 10.31), 29.28% (95% CI: 28.31, 30.26), and 61.12 % (95% CI: 59.89, 62.34), respectively. The mean number of days per week of breakfast consumption was 5.14 (95% CI: 5.08, 5.20), the corresponding figure was 6.39 (95%CI: 6.35, 6.42), and 6.24 (95%CI: 6.21, 6.28) for lunch and dinner, respectively. These frequencies had no significant difference according to the SES of the living region.
Conclusion: Most Iranian children and adolescents consumed all three main meals, however irrespective of SES; in general skipping breakfast was more frequent than skipping lunch and dinner. Regular meal intake, notably breakfast, should be considered in health promoting programs for all children and adolescents.
Keywords :
Meal frequency , Skipping meals , Children and adolescents , Prevention , Health promotion , Iran
