Determination of breakfast habits, food pattern and quality of adults working in Gaziantep province Sanko University

Although it is pointed out that breakfast is often the most important meal of the day, despite the general belief and scientific support, breakfast is often skipped. A balanced breakfast should meet 15-25% of total energy intake. The aim of this study was to determine the breakfast habits, food pattern and quality of adults working in SANKO University, Gaziantep. The study was conducted between June-September 2019, on a total of 137 subjects (male: 39,4%, female: 60.6%). Demographic characteristics, nutritional status, breakfast habits of individuals, frequency of consumption of foods, physical activity levels, 24-hour dietary records for two consecutive days (weekday and weekend) and anthropometric measurements were determined. Mean (±S) age of the individuals was 36.5±10.3 (male: 38.6±12.3, female: 35.0±8.5) years. Most frequently skipped meal was breakfast (51.8%). Individuals skipping breakfast every day had frequent complaints of fatigue (64.9%) and weakness (47.3%) and a significant difference was found between these complaints and skipping breakfast (p<0.05). A significant difference was found between energy, macro and micronutrients and cholesterol intakes, between weekend and weekday (p<0.05). Percentage of meeting the daily energy requirement of breakfast was found to be 32.0±12.3% in males and 30.8±10.9% in females. In both gender, a significant difference was found between the consumption of milk, eggs, green leafy and other vegetables and refined/whole grain bread at breakfast on weekdays and weekends (p<0.05). Breakfast quality index score was found 4.82±1.9 (medium quality) for weekdays and 5.29±1.7 (medium quality) for weekends. There was a significant difference between the breakfast quality index scores of subjects who had and had not breakfast every day (p<0.05). No significant difference was determined between breakfast quality index scores for weekend (p>0.05). Percentage of overweight (BMI: 25.0-29.9 kg/m2) and obesity (BMI: ≥30.0 kg/m2) were 72.2% and 7.4% for males, 31.3% and 10.8% for females, respectively. Mean (±S) BMI was 26.5±2.5 and 24.8±4.0 kg/m2 for males and females, respectively. Statistically insignificant differences were determined between the anthropometric measurements of subjects and every day breakfast skipping (p>0.05). Breakfast habit should be encouraged and awareness should be increased.