Relationship between feeding schedule, nutritional composition of breakfast and nutritional status among university students in valparaiso, chile

Unhealthy lifestyles, such as omission of breakfast, high intake of fast food, and lack of mealtime schedules, have been described among university students. The aim of this study was to relate different characteristics of food intake with the nutritional status of university students. An analytical observational study was conducted among 130 sedentary young people. Nutritional status (weight, height and body fat percentage) and food intake (24h food recall and eating habits survey) were assessed. One quarter of the sample had overweight or obesity (BMI), while 50% had excess body fat. Men with excess body fat had a lower energy intake at breakfast (p= 0.021) and the subjects (both sexes) with excess body fat had a lower calorie intake at lunch compared to subjects with low energy reserves (p= 0.004). Moreover, all subjects consumed excess energy at teatime, independent of body composition. A dependent relationship between feeding schedules and body fat percentage was observed (p= 0.044). Low energy intake at breakfast along with a high intake during teatime, with fasting intervals of more than 4 hours between meals at least once a day, could be associated with excess body fat in sedentary university students.