Daily meal frequency and associated variables in children and adolescents

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the frequency distribution of daily meals and its relation to demographic, socioeconomic, behavioral, anthropometric and biochemical factors in children and adolescents. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study with a representative sample of 708 schoolchildren aged 7---14 years. Data on personal information, socioeconomic status, physical activity and number of meals were obtained through semi-structured questionnaire and consumption by 24-h recall and food record. Weight and height measurements were also performed to calculate the body mass index. Finally, blood samples were collected for analysis of total cholesterol, high- and low density lipoprotein, triglyceride, and glucose levels. Descriptive statistics, the Mann---Whitney test, and Poisson regression were used in statistical analysis. Results: Meal frequency <4 was associated in children, family income <3 Brazilian minimum wages (PR = 5.42; 95% CI: 1.29---22.77; p = 0.021) and adolescents, the number of sons in the family >2 (PR = 1.53; 95% CI: 1.11---2.11; p = 0.010). Even in the age group of 10---14 years, <4 meals was related to higher prevalence of body mass index (PR = 1.33; 95% CI: 1.02---1.74; p = 0.032) and low-density lipoprotein (PR = 1.39; 95% CI: 1.03---1.87; p = 0.030) higher after adjustments. Conclusion: Lower frequency of meals was related to lower income in children and adolescents,larger number of sons in the family, and increased values of body mass index and low-densitylipoprotein.