The status of breakfast consumption among primary school children in the north of Iran

To evaluate eating breakfast among primary school children and some demographic factors relationship with it in whole of Golestan province (north of Iran) in 2009. This cross-sectional study was performed on 7426 students (3786=male and 3640=female) from 112 schools in urban and city area that were chosen by two steps’ cluster and stratify sampling. A questioner was completed for all samples by interview. The consumption of breakfast and some factors effect on such as ethnicity, residential area, literacy and type of school computed in this study. Data analysis was carried out using the spss.win 16.Validity and reliability of questionnaire was confirmed. Consumption of breakfast was shown among 91.7% of students (female= 90.1% and male=93.3%). Consumption of breakfast was 8.7% in public school more than in private school children and in Turkman ethnic groups (94.0%) is significantly more than other ethnic groups such as Fars (90.4%) and Sisstani (91.6%) (P=0.001). There is a statistical significant differences between gender and type of school, separately (P=0.001). The most reasons for lack of breakfast eating are low appetite (70.1%) and non-flavorful foods (11.8%). Lack of breakfast eating is one to eleven of students and social-demographic factors such as ethnicity and social level based on type of school effects on it. With regard to roll of breakfast eating in educational promotion, recognition and solving the obstacle factors for eating breakfast in students were recommended.