title: Late-night overeating is associated with smaller breakfast, breakfast skipping, and obesity in children: The Healthy Growth Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Excessive energy intake during evening hours is associated with several health problems. The aim of this study was to investigate for the first time the possible association of late-night overeating with breakfast habits and obesity in a large sample of Greek children ages 9 to 13 y.
  
  
  METHODS
  In all, 2655 schoolchildren (9-13 y) participated in the Healthy Growth Study, a cross-sectional epidemiologic study conducted in 77 primary schools in four large regions in Greece. The present study presents results on 1912 children having full data regarding anthropometric, dietary, physical activity, and physical examination indices.
  
  
  RESULTS
  High-energy intake at dinner and evening snack was associated with higher likelihood of skipping breakfast (odds ratio, 1.85; 95% confidence interval 1.42-2.39) and with lower caloric intake at breakfast (β = 0.14; P < 0.001). Children at the lowest quartile of physical activity levels were found to have a positive association between the calories consumed at dinner and their body mass index (β = 0.11; P = 0.019). This association was inverse for children at the highest quartile of physical activity levels (β = -0.10; P = 0.033).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Late-night overeating is associated with skipping and/or consuming a smaller breakfast. In children with low levels of physical activity, it is associated with increased body mass index. Future relevant studies are essential to further explore and confirm the findings of the present study.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Harokopio University of Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Kalliopi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Karatzi
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Harokopio University of Athens, Greece; EnviNHealth S.A., Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Moschonis
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Harokopio University of Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Eurikleia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Choupi
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Harokopio University of Athens, Greece. Electronic address: Manios@hua.gr.
authors.forename: Yannis
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Manios
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D015992:Body Mass Index; D062408:Breakfast / Q000208:ethnology; D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development; D002664:Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena / Q000208:ethnology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D002149:Energy Intake / Q000208:ethnology; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D006115:Greece / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D006963:Hyperphagia / Q000208:ethnology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D050177:Overweight / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology / Q000209:etiology*; D063766:Pediatric Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology / Q000209:etiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012574:Schools; D057185:Sedentary Behavior / Q000208:ethnology; D062410:Snacks / Q000208:ethnology
keywords: Breakfast skipping; Childhood obesity; Late-night overeating