Authors

Kumars Pourrostami, Ramin Heshmat, Zeinab Hemati, Motahar Heidari-Beni, Mostafa Qorbani, Mohammad Esmaeil Motlagh, Alireza Raeisi, Gita Shafiee, Hasan Ziaodini, Shagayegh Beshtar, Majzoubeh Taheri, Armita Mahdavi-Gorabi, Tahereh Aminaei & Roya Kelishadi

Affiliations

Department of Pediatrics, Child Growth and Development Research Center, Research Institute for Primordial Prevention of Non-Communicable Disease, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

1 Department of Urology, School of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
2 Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Modeling in Health Research Center, Institute for Futures Studies in Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
3 Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Physiology Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran

Abstract

Background

There are few studies on the association of main meal consumption with fruit and vegetable intake. This study aims to assess the relation between skipping main meals and fruit and vegetable intake in children and adolescents.

Methods

This multi-centric cross-sectional study was conducted in 30 provinces of Iran. This study was conducted in the framework of the fifth survey of a national surveillance program entitled Childhood and Adolescence Surveillance and Prevention of Adult Non-communicable Disease study (CASPIAN- V). 14,440 school students aged 7–18 years were assessed. Logistic regression analyses were used to evaluate the association between frequency of fruit and vegetable intake with skipping main meals.

Results

Overall, 14,274 students completed the study (99% participation rate). Their mean (SD) age was 12.3 (3.2) (53% were aged 6–12), 50.6% of them were boys, and 71.3% lived in urban area. In multivariate logistic regression model, statistically significant associations were found between skipping main meals and low fruits and vegetables intake. Skipping breakfast was associated with vegetables intake [OR = 1.19(95% CI 1.02–1.38)] and fruits intake [OR = 5.33(95% CI 4.46–6.37)]. Skipping lunch was associated with vegetables intake [OR = 1.61(95% CI 1.29–1.96)] and fruit intake [OR = 9.11(95% CI 6.55–12.67)]. Skipping dinner was associated with vegetables intake [OR = 1.52 (95% CI 1.15–2.01)] and fruits intake [OR = 2.21(95% CI 1.64–2.97)].

Conclusions

In this study, low frequency of fruit and vegetable intake was associated with skipping main meals. The results highlight the importance of promoting regular meal consumption with increase in the intake of fruit and vegetables among children and adolescents.