Why don't more people eat breakfast? A biological perspective

Can Social Cognitive Theory Influence Breakfast Frequency in an Institutional Context: A Qualitative Study

Breakfast is considered an important meal, especially for people who are about to commence a long or demanding workday, and for roles that may involve physical tasks and a requirement to remain alert and vigilant in potentially high-risk situations. This study looks at breakfast consumption influences within two workplace institutional settings, namely military and mining. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with military personnel (n = 12) and mining employees (n = 12) to understand their breakfast consumption behaviour at work and at home, and the associated behavioural influences. The interview questions were framed by social cognitive theory. Overall, cognitive and environmental influences were the most prominent influences on breakfast consumption, less evident were behavioural influences. A negative stereotype of workplace institutional food services emerged as one of the most significant barriers to breakfast consumption for those already at work. Considerations of environmental influences on behaviour may need to be broadened beyond physical barriers and social influences, to include perceptions of the behavioural environment. Programs that aim to increase breakfast consumption must create areas where their employees want to go. Food systems need to ensure nutritious, quality, and appealing food is available. Interventions need to increase participants’ knowledge, improve their attitudes, and create positive expectations for breakfast.

Increasing Egg Consumption at Breakfast Is Associated with Increased Usual Nutrient Intakes: A Modeling Analysis Using NHANES and the USDA Child and Adult Care Food Program School Breakfast Guidelines

The objective of the current modeling analysis was three-fold: (1) to examine usual nutrient intakes in children when eggs are added into dietary patterns that typically do not contain eggs; (2) to examine usual nutrient intakes with the addition of eggs in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) school breakfast; and (3) to examine nutrient adequacy when eggs are included in routine breakfast patterns and with the addition of eggs to the CACFP school breakfast program. Dietary recall data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2011–2016 (children aged 1–18 years-old; n = 9254; CACFP n = 159) were used in the analysis. The usual intakes of pantothenic acid, riboflavin, selenium, and vitamin D increased ≥10 percent (relative to the baseline values) with the addition of one egg at breakfast. The usual intakes of protein and vitamin A at breakfast were also increased by more than 10 percent compared to the baseline values with the addition of two eggs. Similar outcomes were observed with the addition of eggs to the CACFP school breakfast. The percent of children above the adequate intake for total choline increased to 43.6 and 57.8% with one and two eggs, respectively, compared to 22.6% at the baseline. The addition of eggs at breakfast can contribute to nutrient intakes and overall dietary adequacy and play a role in public health initiatives aimed at increasing the intake of under-consumed nutrients and nutrients of concern.

A systematic review of interventions to increase breakfast consumption: a socio-cognitive perspective

OBJECTIVE

Regular breakfast skipping is related to unhealthy dietary behaviours, such as consuming an overall poorer quality diet and lower rates of physical activity, both of which are linked to a higher BMI. Adolescent breakfast skippers struggle with mental focus, sleep issues and lower grades. Solutions that can be implemented to overcome breakfast skipping are needed.

DESIGN

A systematic literature review was undertaken to identify programmes that aimed to increase breakfast eating. Following the PRISMA framework, studies were sourced to examine details of behaviour change, evidence of theory use and other important programme learnings and outcomes.

SETTING

Breakfast consumption empirical studies published from 2000 onwards.

PARTICIPANTS

Nineteen empirical studies that aimed to improve breakfast eating behaviour.

RESULTS

Out of the nineteen studies examined, ten studies reported an increase in breakfast consumption frequency for the entire study group or subgroups. Seven studies found no change, one was inconclusive and one observed a decrease in breakfast frequency. Positive changes to the dietary quality of breakfast were observed in five of the studies that did not observe increased frequency of breakfast consumption. Only six studies reported using theory in the intervention.

CONCLUSIONS

This evidence review points needed to extend theory application to establish a reliable evidence base that can be followed by practitioners seeking to increase breakfast eating rates in their target population.

Protein timing during the day and its relevance for muscle strength and lean mass

Protein consumption and its association with changes in body composition, muscle function and different strategies to optimize the muscle protein synthetic response have received considerable attention. However, we are not aware of any epidemiological study examining the time-of-day consumption (afternoon versus evening) of protein on strength and lean mass. The purpose was to examine the associations between afternoon and evening protein consumption, at different protein thresholds (i.e. 15, 20, 25 and 30 g), in relation to leg lean mass and knee extensor strength in men. Dietary protein consumption was assessed using 24-h dietary interview format. Knee extensor strength was measured on an isokinetic dynamometer. Leg lean mass was estimated from whole-body DXA scans. Participants who consumed 20 g, 25 g and 30 g of protein in the evening had greater leg lean mass than those who consumed protein in the afternoon (P<0·05). However, there was no difference in leg lean mass for 15 g of protein consumption in the evening compared to the afternoon (P>0·05). For strength, there were no differences between evening and afternoon consumption of protein for 15 g, 20 g or 25 g (P>0·05); however, those consuming at least 30 g of protein in the evening had greater knee extensor strength compared to those consuming similar amounts in the afternoon (P = 0·05). These findings suggest that evening protein consumption is associated with greater leg lean mass and knee extensor strength when compared to afternoon protein consumption. Based on these findings, we cautiously hypothesize that there may be a circadian rhythm in muscle protein metabolism.