In the social setting, numerous factors influence the frequency of breakfast consumption. Maintaining a healthy diet is a substantial factor in society and it requires evaluation of food consumption among the members of the society (Al-Hazzaa et. al, 2011). Breakfast consumption patterns have been greatly influenced by lifestyle factors and gender attributes in society. There is a difference in breakfast eating pattern in female and male high schoolers. Research indicates that breakfast consumption frequency varies based on gender where lower daily breakfast consumption was observed in girls. In addition, lower daily breakfast consumption was identified for older adolescents, students living in single-parent families and students from families with affluence. Various social determinants of health associate frequency of breakfast consumption with healthy lifestyle behaviors while in other settings it is associated with unhealthy lifestyle behavior (Amin et. al, 2008). The social context identifies the existence of various socio-economic, behavioral, biologic, ethical, spiritual and cultural aspects that might influence the patterns of breakfast consumption among the high school freshman students.
Breakfast consumption is considered as the most substantial meal of the day. Studies have consistently indicated that a regular pattern of breakfast consumption is attributed to better diet quality, especially for school-aged students. Moreover, it is associated with higher micro-nutrients consumption hence considered beneficial. Most high school freshmen are in their old adolescent age. Since a regular pattern of breakfast consumption allows the intake of micro-nutrients, research indicates that it creates high chances of obesity in other words, overweight among adolescents. In most cases, female students are not comfortable with heavyweights hence they tend to avoid breakfast consumption leading to a lower breakfast consumption among them (Al-Hazzaa et. al, 2011).
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According to Health Behavior in High School study, social-economic status is a great determinant of the pattern involved in breakfast consumption among students (Amin et. al, 2008). It regulates breakfast habits among the students. The social-economic status is attributed by various factors including parental occupation and parental education that present diet consumption education to the adolescents. In addition, family financial stability is among the social-economic factors that influence breakfast consumption among high school students. Most of the students depend on their kin for food among other essentials. Several cases have been identified where adolescents get into irregular breakfast consumption due to inadequate finances to facilitate the same. This aspect is not gender-based since it affects any gender in the high school context.
Additionally, health-compromising behaviors such as deskbound lifestyle are considered as great determinants of the pattern of breakfast consumption among the high school students (Al-Hazzaa et. al, 2011). Biologically, such behaviors integrated with regular breakfast consumption are considered as great facilitators of overweight. Therefore, irregular breakfast pattern is considered an overweight prevention approach. Scientifically, breakfast consumption increases the ability to concentrate in school. Consuming breakfast raises the levels of blood glucose, which in return enhances learning and cognition among the high school students.
Culturally, female students do not engage in activities that would maintain their physical fitness (Amin et. al, 2008). Therefore, a regular breakfast consumption pattern would increase the chances of overweight. As identified earlier, breakfast consumption improves the nutrients status and diet quality in the body. Therefore, female students tend to avoid regular breakfast consumption patterns with an aim to maintain physical fitness (Wengreen & Moncur, 2009).
In conclusion, various factors have influenced the frequency of breakfast consumption in high school students with overweight prevention being the major aspect. In addition, social-economic status and other ethical behaviors have influenced the pattern as well. In the high school level, most of the students are in the old adolescent stage. Scientifically, the stage is accompanied by physical body manipulation processes that have a different impact on both female and male students. However, the stage presents high chances of overweight among female students giving a reason as to why they avoid regular breakfast consumption patterns. Therefore, the breakfast consumption pattern is low for female students in high school (Wengreen & Moncur, 2009).
References
Al-Hazzaa, H. M., Abahussain, N. A., Al-Sobayel, H. I., Qahwaji, D. M., & Musaiger, A. O. (2011). Physical activity, sedentary behaviors, and dietary habits among Saudi adolescents relative to age, gender, and region. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity , 8 (1), 140.
Amin, T. T., Al-Sultan, A. I., & Ali, A. (2008). Overweight and obesity and their association with dietary habits, and sociodemographic characteristics among male primary school children in Al-Hassa, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Indian journal of community medicine: official publication of Indian Association of Preventive & Social Medicine , 33 (3), 172.
Wengreen, H. J., & Moncur, C. (2009). Change in diet, physical activity, and body weight among young-adults during the transition from high school to college. Nutrition Journal , 8 (1), 32.
