Volume 90, Issue 6, December (2003), pp. 1003-1006 © The Author 2003
doi:10.1079/BJN20031011

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Short Communication

Does breakfast-club attendance affect schoolchildren's nutrient intake? A study of dietary intake at three schools

Pippa Belderson¹, Ian Harvey¹, Rosemary Kimbell², Jennifer O'Neill², Jean Russell³, Margo E. Barker^2
1School of Medicine, Health Policy and Practice, University of East Anglia, , Norwich, NR4 7TJ, , UK
²Human Nutrition Unit, Division of Clinical Science, Northern General Hospital, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S5 7AU, , UK
³Corporate Information and Computing Centre, University of Sheffield, 285 Glossop Road, Sheffield, S10 2HB, , UK

 (Received 9 January 2003–Revised 16 June 2003–Accepted 29 August 2003)

Lack of breakfast has been implicated as a factor contributing to children's poor diets and school performance. Breakfast-club schemes, where children are provided with breakfast in school at the start of the school day, have been initiated by the Department of Health in schools throughout England, UK. The aim of the present study was to compare the energy and nutrient intakes of schoolchildren who attended breakfast clubs (attendee subjects) with those who did not (control subjects). Three different schools were studied, involving a total of 111 children aged between 9 and 15 years. There were fifty-nine attendee and fifty-two control subjects. The two groups were matched for eligibility for school meals. All subjects completed a 3 d weighed food diary for estimation of nutrient intake. Height and weight were measured and BMI calculated. Nutrient intake data were analysed using a general linear model with age as a covariate. The demographic and anthropometric characteristics of the attendee and control subjects were similar. Children who attended breakfast clubs had significantly greater intakes of fat (% energy), saturated fat (% energy) and Na than control subjects. Thus, in these schools breakfast-club participation was not associated with superior nutrient intake or improvements in dietary pattern.