School-based intervention to promote eating daily and healthy breakfast: a survey and a case-control study.
OBJECTIVE
The recent rapid increase in childhood obesity rates suggests that a consideration of the role of the schools in addressing this problem is necessary. 'Fits me' program functions to promote eating daily and healthy breakfast among elementary school children.


METHODS
Separate children groups were sampled each year by clusters from seven regions around Israel. They filled a self-administered questionnaire at the beginning of 2003, before the program started, and in 2003-2005, after the program. A separate sample was collected in 2006 in a case-control structure. The answer to the question: 'what do you eat for breakfast?' considered as a healthy breakfast if it included one of the following food items: A sandwich (not including chocolate, jam or butter), cereals, vegetable, fruit, egg and dairy product.


RESULTS
As compared with 2003 before the program, more children reported eating daily breakfast over the years (51-65% before and until 2005, respectively, P for trend<0.01). Odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) for eating a healthy breakfast, in 2006 in the intervention (n=417) vs controls (n=572), adjusted for sex and age were OR=1.53 (95% CI: 1.15-2.04). However, only a third of 75% of the children who ate a healthy breakfast in the intervention group estimated that they were eating a healthy breakfast.


CONCLUSIONS
After implementation an educational program to promote daily and healthy breakfast eating, the goal of a healthier breakfast was achieved. However, one should strive to define an exact definition of a healthy breakfast.
Zinman College for Physical Education & Sports, School of Exercise and Sport Sciences, Wingate Institute, Netanya, Israel. eilatsi@017.net.il
S
S
Eilat-Adar
N
N
Koren-Morag
M
M
Siman-Tov
I
I
Livne
H
H
Altmen
D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002664:Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena / Q000502:physiology*; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D004032:Diet / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004034:Diet Surveys; D004435:Eating / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012574:Schools; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires