Breakfast consumption behaviors of elementary school children in Bangkok metropolitan region

Abstract

© 2015, SEAMEO TROPMED Network. All rights reserved. Family factors influence children’s eating behavior. However, there is little research on family correlates of children’s breakfast behavior. This study investigated the breakfast consumption behaviors of school-aged children by surveying their parents. One thousand twelve parents of Grade 1-6 students in Bangkok Metropolitan region completed the questionnaire comprising the following topics: general information about parents, general information about school children, parents’ knowledge of breakfast consumption, and breakfast consumption behavior in school children. The results indicated that parents did play a role in breakfast preparation. The earlier parents woke up, the higher the chance of children to have breakfast. Most parents (83%) had good knowledge about breakfast goodness. Just over three-quarters (79%) of students had a breakfast daily; with only 1% that never had breakfast daily. Frequency of breakfast consumption tended to decreases, as children growing up. The key barrier of breakfast consumption were lack of time, woke up late, and had no breakfast prepared at home. Without breakfast, the parents reported that their children expressed hunger, moodiness, and the inability to concentrate in class.