A study, carried out by Ipsos for the Lactel Foundation, reveals why many more schoolgirls than boys of the same age skip breakfast.
- In 6th grade, only 1% of middle school girls skip breakfast, while 15% skip it in 3rd grade.
- Adolescent girls no longer eat in the morning because they prefer to prioritize their sleep and preparation.
- Concern about their image and waking up too early also slow down eating this meal, which is quick and unsystematic, particularly during the week.
After the night fast, breakfast is the first energy recharge. It provides sufficient nutritional intake to carry out the day’s activities and prevent daily deficiencies in energy, proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, vitamin A & D, calcium, magnesium, potassium, and fiber. However, this meal is the least consumed by young people. According to a survey conducted by Ipsos among 451 schoolgirls for the Lactel Foundation, 68% of teenage girls do not eat every morning, which is likely to cause bouts of fatigue but also a drop in concentration during the day. According to the results, the disinterest in breakfast increases as they get older. At the start of middle school, i.e. in 6th grade, only 1% of young girls skip this meal, while 15% skip it in 3rd grade.
Lack of time, lack of appetite: why do college girls skip breakfast?
The survey shows that in the morning, teenage girls prefer to sleep longer, but also take time to get ready: getting dressed (82%) and doing their hair (73%). Eating breakfast is also hampered by the complicated relationship adolescent girls have with their changing bodies, as well as by the gaze of others. Thus, 18% of them declare that they are on a diet or have already followed a diet. College girls also report their inability to eat in the morning when they wake up too early. According to the results, lack of appetite (67%) and fatigue (33%) are the first two reasons given to explain this situation.
Under these conditions, this meal is quick and not systematic, particularly during the week. “80% of young girls take it in less than 10 minutes. They favor simple and quick items to eat, such as a bowl of cereal or pastries. Bread as well as butter and jam are the least popular foods , as well as hot drinks such as tea, coffee or chocolate.we can read in the survey.
Breakfast: “amplify the pleasure” to make teenagers want to eat again in the morning
In order for this meal to be put back at the heart of the routine of college girls, we should make breakfast a moment of pleasure and take more time to eat in the morning. “Preserving restful sleep and having breakfast with the family, without parasitic screens, are part of the essential hygiene to amplify pleasure”, explained Dr. Arnaud Cocaul, nutritionist.
Parents should also emphasize the importance of eating breakfast and set an example. “Many of them leave the child alone in front of his bowl, without helping him in the composition of his breakfast. Nutrition is, however, a particularly sensitive subject during adolescence, when the body changes, referring to the teenager an image sometimes far from the dream body imposed by the prism of social networks. Faced with this, the family plays a structuring role. It must not be a source of stress and must strengthen self-esteem.” added the specialist.
Raising awareness and providing advice on the composition of this meal given at school can also change the eating behavior of young girls. “Those who have been made aware are more likely to have a healthy diet (54% versus 49%) and to consider that breakfast is the most important meal of the day (45% versus 40%).”