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The extent to which breakfast covers the morning energy expenditure of adolescents with varying levels of physical activity

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 57, pages 310–315 (2003)Cite this article

Abstract

Background: Energy intake at breakfast affects the performance of creativity tests, memory recall and voluntary physical endurance in children before lunch, and food craving during the whole day.

Objective: To assess the adequacy of breakfast energy supply (BES) and energy expenditure (EE) in adolescents during a schoolday without or with 2 h of physical education lesson (PEL) in the morning.

Design: Sixty adolescents (four groups of 14–16 boys and girls aged 12–16 y) participated in a cross-sectional study. Activity patterns and EE were determined by whole-body calorimetry during 36 h and in free-living conditions during 5 days using both a diary and the validated heart rate recording method. BES was determined by weighing individual foods. The pyloric energy flow was assessed using a model of fractional stomach emptying.

Results: BES averaged 24.9% (s.d.=6.1) of daily EE in the four groups of subjects. It covered the mean morning EE on a schoolday without PEL, but not in a schoolday with 2 h of PEL in any group. When PEL took place from 8–10 am the cumulative EE exceeded the cumulative pyloric energy flow after 105–150 min, that is during the PEL session, and the energy deficit increased until lunch. With a light breakfast (BES−1 s.d.) energy deficiency happened after 90 min.

Conclusion: The results stress the need for a heavy breakfast for children and adolescents on the days with PEL in the morning, and a carbohydrate rich snack at 10 am to improve attention, memory and willing participation in physical activities.

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful to the adolescents who participated enthusastically in this study, to their parents, and the high school directors for their cooperation. We thank B Carlier for his cooperation and R Taylor for revising the English. The study was supported by Nestlé France.

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Author notes

  1. M Vermorel and J Coudert: Guarantors: M Vermorel and J Coudert.

  2. M Vermorel, A Bitar, J Vernet, E Verdier and J Coudert: Contributors: MV was responsible for all stages of the study, including the study design, measurements, assessment of nutrient supply, interpretation of results and writing the paper. AB participated in the measurements, analysed the data of energy supply and expenditure and participated in the discussion. JV participated in the calculation of energy expenditure and was responsible for statistical analysis. EV, dietician, was responsible for the menus and calculated nutrient intakes. JC, medical doctor, participated in the discussion of the study design, recruited the volunteers, supervised the study, and participated in the discussion.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Energy and Lipid Metabolism Research Unit, St-Genès Champanelle, France

    M Vermorel & J Vernet

  2. Department of Biology, Applied Physiology Laboratory, Faculty of Sciences, El Jadida, Morocco

    A Bitar

  3. Human Nutrition Laboratory, Clermont-Ferrand, France

    E Verdier

  4. Physiology and Sports Biology Laboratory, Medical Faculty. Centre for Research in Human Nutrition in Auvergne, Clermont-Ferrand, France

    J Coudert

Authors
  1. M Vermorel
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  2. A Bitar
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  3. J Vernet
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  4. E Verdier
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  5. J Coudert
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Correspondence to M Vermorel.

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Vermorel, M., Bitar, A., Vernet, J. et al. The extent to which breakfast covers the morning energy expenditure of adolescents with varying levels of physical activity. Eur J Clin Nutr 57, 310–315 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1601546

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1601546

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