title: A cross-sectional observational study of the nutritional intake of UK primary school children from deprived and non-deprived backgrounds: implications for school breakfast schemes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study examined the nutritional intake of 9-11 year old children in Wales, UK, to assess the rationale for, and potential of, school breakfast initiatives. It also examined the possible unintended consequence of over consumption.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study employed a cross-sectional observational design within a randomized controlled trial of a free school breakfast programme. A total of 111 primary schools were randomly assigned to an intervention condition (in which a free school breakfast programme was implemented) or a control condition (in which implementation of the scheme was delayed). Sub-samples of children completed multiple-pass 24-hr dietary recall interviews at baseline (n = 581), and 12 months later (n = 582). Deprivation was assessed for each child in terms of whether or not they were entitled to free school meals.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Prior to the introduction of the programme, rates of breakfast skipping were low and there was little evidence of widespread nutritional deficiency. However, there was a subset of children who consumed inadequate levels of a range of vitamins and minerals and 29 % of children ate very little for breakfast (less than 100 kcal). Children that ate larger breakfasts, had higher daily intakes of all nutrients that were examined. Children from deprived backgrounds consumed significantly lower levels of several vitamins and minerals at breakfast. Following the introduction of the breakfast scheme in intervention schools, there was little difference in the nutritional quality of school versus home breakfasts (n = 35 and 211 respectively). Where children ate breakfast at both school and home (n = 33), their overall energy intake was higher, but not significantly so.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although the overall diet of this group of children was generally good prior to the breakfast scheme, the results suggest that such schemes could be beneficial for a subset of children who are poorly nourished and for those children who consume very little for breakfast.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN18336527.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Swansea University, Swansea, SA2 8PP, UK. 290921@swansea.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Kim T
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Jenkins
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Swansea University, Swansea, SA2 8PP, UK. d.benton@swansea.ac.uk.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Benton
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, City University London, London, EC1R 0JD, UK. katy.tapper.1@city.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Katy
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tapper
authors.affiliation: DECIPHer, School of Social Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF10 3BD, UK. murphyS7@cardiff.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.affiliation: MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit, Institute of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G2 3QB, UK. laurence.moore@glasgow.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Laurence
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Moore
mesh_terms: D062408:Breakfast; D002648:Child; D002664:Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena / Q000502:physiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet; D002149:Energy Intake / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005522:Food Services / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011203:Poverty / Q000191:economics; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012574:Schools / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012923:Social Class; D006113:United Kingdom