Breakfast quality, nutritional status, and academic performance in adolescents
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v75.118198Keywords:
Breakfast, diet, nutritional status, academic performance, adolescentsAbstract
Introduction: Breakfast is considered the most important meal of the day and is significantly associated with academic performance.
Objective: To determine breakfast quality, nutritional status, and academic performance in adolescents.
Methodology: his was a cross-sectional, descriptive, and observational study. The sample consisted of 198 adolescents (104 males and 94 females) from a private educational institution in the city of Guayaquil. To assess breakfast quality, a 3-day dietary record was applied based on the foods typically consumed during this meal. Nutritional status was evaluated using anthropometric indices such as weight-for-age, height-for-age, and body mass index-for-age. Academic performance was determined according to the grades obtained by the adolescents.
Results: Regarding breakfast quality, caloric adequacy in males remained within the normal range (99.6±34.0%), whereas females showed a slightly higher intake (117.7±37.9%). According to nutritional status, all anthropometric indices reflected normality in relation to participants’ ages. Finally, academic performance revealed excellent (47.0%) and good (30.8%) outcomes.
Discussion: The findings of this study partially align with previous research conducted in adolescents.
Conclusions: Although the adolescents presented a normal nutritional status and an academic performance ranging from excellent to good, the quality of their breakfast was characterized by a low intake of complex carbohydrates, fiber, and calcium, and a high intake of proteins and fats. These findings highlight the need to promote a more balanced diet, especially at breakfast, as it directly influences academic performance and achievement.
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