Association between breakfast consumption, nutritional status and cardiovascular risk in Chilean schoolchildren from 6 to 9 years old

Abstract

Introduction: In Chile, childhood obesity is a public health problem, being the bad eating habits and the decrease of physical activity the main causes. The objective of this study was to explore the association between nutritional status, cardiovascular risk and breakfast consumption in schoolchildren in Santiago, Chile. Material and Methods: Cross-sectional study. The sample consisted of 434 schoolchildren of both sexes from an educational establishment in Santiago, Chile. The nutritional status was determined with the evaluation of weight, height and waist circumference. To describe the breakfast consumption, a survey developed for this study was applied. Results: 30,2% of school children are obese and 26,7% are overweight according to BMI. 25,3% are classified as having abdominal obesity risk and 31,2% have abdominal obesity according to waist circumference. 18,9% do not eat breakfast every day. Compared to the childen who always eat breakfast, the risk of obesity was higher in those who never consumed (Odds ratio (OR): 1,9 [(IC) del 95%: 0,91-2,97] p = 0,11), the same as the risk of abdominal obesity (Odds ratio (OR): 1,66 [(IC) del 95%: 0,91-2,97] p = 0,32). Conclusions: There is a high prevalence of excess malnutrition accompanied by a significant percentage of schoolchildren who do not eat breakfast daily. Schoolchildren who do not eat breakfast every day have a higher risk of obesity.