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Does breakfast-club attendance affect schoolchildren's nutrient intake? A study of dietary intake at three schools

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 March 2007

Pippa Belderson ,
Ian Harvey ,
Rosemary Kimbell ,
Jennifer O'Neill ,
Jean Russell  and
Margo E. Barker
Pippa Belderson
Affiliation:
School of Medicine, Health Policy and Practice, University of East Anglia, Norwich NR4 7TJ, UK
Ian Harvey
Affiliation:
School of Medicine, Health Policy and Practice, University of East Anglia, Norwich NR4 7TJ, UK
Rosemary Kimbell
Affiliation:
Human Nutrition Unit, Division of Clinical Science, Northern General Hospital, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S5 7AU, UK
Jennifer O'Neill
Affiliation:
Human Nutrition Unit, Division of Clinical Science, Northern General Hospital, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S5 7AU, UK
Jean Russell
Affiliation:
Corporate Information and Computing Centre, University of Sheffield, 285 Glossop Road, Sheffield S10 2HB, UK
Margo E. Barker*
Affiliation:
Human Nutrition Unit, Division of Clinical Science, Northern General Hospital, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S5 7AU, UK
*
*Corresponding Author: Dr Margo E. Barker, fax +44 114 2610112, email [email protected]
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Abstract

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Lack of breakfast has been implicated as a factor contributing to children's poor diets and school performance. Breakfast-club schemes, where children are provided with breakfast in school at the start of the school day, have been initiated by the Department of Health in schools throughout England, UK. The aim of the present study was to compare the energy and nutrient intakes of schoolchildren who attended breakfast clubs (attendee subjects) with those who did not (control subjects). Three different schools were studied, involving a total of 111 children aged between 9 and 15 years. There were fifty-nine attendee and fifty-two control subjects. The two groups were matched for eligibility for school meals. All subjects completed a 3 d weighed food diary for estimation of nutrient intake. Height and weight were measured and BMI calculated. Nutrient intake data were analysed using a general linear model with age as a covariate. The demographic and anthropometric characteristics of the attendee and control subjects were similar. Children who attended breakfast clubs had significantly greater intakes of fat (% energy), saturated fat (% energy) and Na than control subjects. Thus, in these schools breakfast-club participation was not associated with superior nutrient intake or improvements in dietary pattern.

Type
Short Communication
Information
British Journal of Nutrition , Volume 90 , Issue 6 , December 2003 , pp. 1003 - 1006
Copyright
Copyright © The Nutrition Society 2003

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