Body Image Among Youth: The Influence of Eating Breakfast and Family Meals

Background/Purpose:

Adolescence is a critical juncture in developing and adopting behaviors that impact health. This life stage is characterized by identity development, experiences of self-consciousness, and preoccupation with what others think. Unfortunately, body dissatisfaction increases during this time as well. There are many known factors associated with body image among youth. Yet, little priority has been given to understanding how eating behaviors, such as meals with parents, may be related to body image among youth. Given the increased number of single parent families and families with two working adults, as well as concerns for cuts to school nutrition programs that support low-income families, it is crucial to examine if eating breakfast and family meals are related to body image. As such, the current study aims to begin filling this gap.

Methods:

The present study used data from the 2009-2010 World Health Organization’s Health Behavior in School-Aged Children (HBSC) U.S. survey, a representative sample of youth in grades 5-10 (N= 12,642). The mean age was 13 years and the mean BMI was 21.2.  Almost half of the sample were female (48.5%) and just over half identified as White (52.1%), 20.3% as African American, and 26.9% as Hispanic/Latino. Measures included questions regarding how often youth eat: 1) breakfast during the week, 2) breakfast on the weekend, 3) breakfast with parents, and 4) evening meals with parents.  The dependent variable was computed by summing scores for 6 measures: frustrated with appearance (reverse coded), satisfied with my appearance, hate body (reverse coded), comfortable with body, anger toward body (reverse coded), and liking appearance in spite of flaws.  We controlled for age, gender, race, ethnicity, and BMI.  After conducting descriptive analyses, we ran a series of linear regressions using survey weights.

Results:

Controlling for demographics and BMI, results indicated that eating breakfast during the week more often (b = 0.37, β = 0.14, p < .001, R² = .16) and eating breakfast more often on the weekends (b = 1.35, β = 0.15, p < .001, R² = .17) was associated with more-positive body image scores.  Further, eating meals with parents, eating breakfast with parents more frequently (b = 0.52, β = 0.15, p < .001, R² = .18) and eating an evening meal with parents more frequently (b = 0.46, β = 0.15, p < .001, R²= .18) was associated with more-positive body image.

Implications:

This study supports the importance of promoting healthy eating behaviors for youth. Although this study does not establish causation, results suggest that eating breakfast and sharing meals with parents may be related to better body image.  Efforts to improve body image for youth should include consideration of these eating behaviors. This study has implications for social work practice with youth, including within school settings, child welfare settings, and youth empowerment/development organizations.  This study also supports the continued need for the National School Breakfast Program, to provide equitable access to breakfast for low-income youth.  In addition to other positive outcomes, continuation of this program may promote positive body image.