Association between breakfast skipping and adiposity status among civil servants in the Tamale metropolis

Abstract

Breakfast meal contributes at least 25% of the daily requirements of an individual making it crucial for healthy growth and development. The aim of this study was to assess breakfast skipping and its association to adiposity among civil servants in the Tamale metropolis. A cross-sectional design was used to assess a sample of 235 civil servants working in the Tamale metropolis. Breakfast eat-ing patterns were assessed by means of a questionnaire that was self-administered. Breakfast con-sumption was classified into breakfast eaters and skippers. Weight and height was measured to determine participants’ adiposity status by means of body mass index cut-off points. Participants were within the age range of 20-60 years. Approximately half of the studied population (50.6%, n=119) were within the 20 - 29 age group. Among the studied population, 52.3% of the participants were breakfast eaters while 47.7% were breakfast skippers. More female participants skipped breakfast (57.8%; n= 52; p=0.016) as compared to males. Almost 30% (33/112) of the studied partic-ipants skipped breakfast for lack of time, 32.1% (36/112) for no appetite and 29.5% (33/112) for not feeling hungry. Breakfast skippers were significantly more likely to be overweight (57.3% vs. 42.6%) and obese (59.7% vs. 40.3%) compared to breakfast eaters. Skipping of breakfast was asso-ciated with obesity. Health strategies should be put in place by the Ghana Health Service to en-courage individuals to regularly eat breakfast.

Keywords: Adiposity, BMI, Breakfast Consumption, Breakfast skipping, Civil servants, Tamale, Ghana