[Relation between the breakfast quality and the academic performance in adolescents of Guadalajara (Castilla-La Mancha)].
OBJECTIVE
To study the relationship between the breakfast quality and skipping it on academic performance of a population of adolescents.


METHODS
A nutritional study on the breakfast quality has been performed in a population of adolescents from Guadalajara (467 young people; age: 12-17 years) by means of questionnaires of seven-day consumption frequency. Besides, we have collected socio-demographic data and academic scores of these people.


RESULTS
Most of the students interviewed take a deficient breakfast since only 4.88% have a complete breakfast. The girls aged 15-17 years are those taking the poorest quality breakfast since 8.33% of them skip this meal. 68.29% take breakfasts which quality may be improved. The breakfast quality is directly related with the mean score obtained during the course 2003-04. This relationship is not so clear-cut when the different mandatory subjects in the different academic orientations are considered since it depends on the type of subject (comprehension, memory, concentration, physical activity...).


CONCLUSIONS
The population studied consumes a poor breakfast, which may affect the academic outcomes, especially those for certain subjects.
Fernández Morales
I
I
Departamento de Nutrición, Bromatología y Toxicología, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Alcalá, Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain.
Aguilar Vilas
Ma V
MV
Mateos Vega
C J
CJ
Martínez Para
Ma C
MC
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D004435:Eating; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D005502:Food; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013030:Spain