Breakfast Location Effect on Breakfast Quality and Obesity Risk in Saudi Female College Students

Background: There is a lack of data regarding breakfast consumption and quality among college students in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the prevalence of breakfast consumption and examine the effect of breakfast location on breakfast nutritional quality and obesity risk among female college students at Taibah University. Methods: A total of 658 students participated in this cross-sectional study. Based on the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) recommendations, breakfast quality scores were computed by summing the individual food components and categorizing participants according to tertiles of the breakfast score distribution. Mixed-effects, repeated-measures models were used to examine BMI categories with increasing tertiles of breakfast quality scores, stratified by breakfast location. Results and Discussion: Approximately 68% of the participants reported having breakfast regularly. The mean breakfast quality score was determined for students who had breakfast at home (12.5 ± 0.11), at college (10.41± 0.06), and in other places (8.19± 0.48). Obesity was associated with lower average breakfast quality scores based on breakfast location [mean quintile 3 compared with 1 difference: home 13.6 (P < 0.001), college 9.1 (P < 0.001), other 8.6 (P < 0.001)]. Conclusion: The findings presented here indicated that a high percentage of students consume breakfast regularly. Students who had breakfast at home had high scores, which indicated good breakfast quality and a decreased risk of obesity. Further research on breakfast quality is needed in this area, as it affects the nutritional status and quality of life of the younger population.