Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.31895/hcptbn.20.1-2.3
BREAKFAST SKIPPING, SOFT DRINK INTAKE, AND LOW FRUIT AND CEREAL CONSUMPTION ARE LINKED TO OBESITY IN CROATIAN SCHOOLCHILDREN: THE CROCOSI STUDY
Jasmina Hasanović
orcid.org/0009-0001-4629-4951
; Faculty of Food Technology and Biotechnology University of Zagreb, Pierottijeva 6, Zagreb.
*
Helena Križan
orcid.org/0000-0001-8429-8657
; Croatian Institute of Public Health, Rockefeller St. 7, Zagreb
Zvonimir Šatalić
orcid.org/0000-0001-7688-2765
; Faculty of Food Technology and Biotechnology University of Zagreb, Pierottijeva 6, Zagreb
Sanja Musić Milanović
; Croatian Institute of Public Health, Rockefeller St. 7, Zagreb; School of Medicine University of Zagreb, Šalata 3, Zagreb
* Corresponding author.
Abstract
Childhood obesity is frequently linked to poor dietary habits, however, there are confl icting results regarding status of specific food groups consumption and dietary habits like (un)regular breakfast consumption. The aim of this study was to explore food and beverages intakes associated with obesity among children enrolled in the CroCOSI study as part of the WHO European Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative. This cross-sectional study investigated dietary habits of school-aged children on a nationally representative sample (n=5608; 7-10 years). Parents or caregivers completed a questionnaire with indicators of dietary habits, and children’s body weight and height were measured. The 2007 WHO recommended growth reference for school-age children was used to compute BMI-for-age Z-scores. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression analyses were performed. The prevalence of obesity among Croatian children was 15.6%. Children who consume breakfast (OR 0.72, 95% CI 0.60–0.87), fruits (OR 0.82, 95% CI 0.68–0.97) and cereals (OR 0.72, 95% CI 0.52–0.97) every day were less likely to have obesity. Further, children who had ≥4 servings of soft drinks weekly were 1.17 (95% CI 1.07–1.36) times more likely to have obesity. Other food groups showed no signifi cant associations with obesity. Daily consumption of fruits and cereals was associated with a lower risk of obesity in children. Skipping breakfast and the intake ≥4 servings of soft drinks per week was associated with a higher likelihood of obesity in this population of school-age children. Interventions with the aim to reduce prevalence of obesity in school-age children in Croatia can be based on the obtained results.
Keywords
childhood obesity; COSI; dietary habits; breakfast; food groups
Hrčak ID:
337621
URI
Publication date:
1.7.2025.
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