Critique on Predicting Adult Metabolic Syndrome from Adolescent Poor Breakfast Habits By: Jingyih Lee

Maria Wennberg, Per E Gustafsson, Patrik Wennberg, and Anne Hammarstrom wrote the article “Poor breakfast habits in adolescence predict the metabolic syndrome in adulthood”. After the study was performed, the authors tried to justify that the study advocates the need for more breakfast programs in the schools of USA and Europe. The authors also tried to justify the methods that the study used to conduct the experiment. Although the results of this study agreed with previously performed studies, the study cannot be considered an accurate evaluation because of the faulty methods used. Furthermore, the conclusions were too broad considering the study’s sample size.

The main question addressed by this study was to question whether poor breakfast habits in the adolescent years could predict metabolic syndrome (obesity, high glucose levels) in adulthood. The methods of the study included, first, evaluating a group of adolescence of 16 years in a Northern Sweden school, and later, evaluating the same group when they were 43 years of age. The evaluation at 16 years of age consisted of a validated questionnaire given on one random day inquiring each adolescent what had for breakfast that morning, and other possible influential factors. The results of the study of the article noted a significant percentage of more individuals with obesity and high glucose levels in those with poor breakfast choices when compared to the other individuals who were deemed to have a healthy breakfast. The authors concluded that breakfast programs are necessary to promote breakfast eating in adolescences in schools especially in USA and Europe.

The methods of the study were faulty. The one-day questionnaire is not enough to ask the 16 year olds what they ate that morning. It is common for a student to be late that day and didn’t eat, while he usually eats a healthy breakfast. If a questionnaire was used, data should’ve been taken extensively throughout a period of time to ensure credibility, and not just one day to produce more accurate results. The study would be more useful if it had a clear control group of kids who ate normally and an experimental group of kids who didn’t eat breakfast.

The pool of 889 students located in a single location in Sweden is not adequate enough to conclude anything in USA or Europe. Out of all the subjects, only 88 of the subjects were deemed to have “poor breakfast habits.” Moreover, greatest difference is that the 16 year olds were able to drink alcohol and smoke legally in Sweden, where it is illegal of either action in USA.

While there is distortion in the study, its results can still inform the parents of adolescents of the possible long-term health benefits of enforcing their children to eat a healthy breakfast daily.

The study concluded that poor breakfast habits can predict metabolic syndrome correlated with previous studies. However, the implemented methods allowed for areas of distortion. The conclusion was also too broad for the achieved results. Another study with a much greater and more diverse sample size is needed. The study must also have clearer control and experimental groups when compared to this study.

Citations

Wennberg, M., Gustafsson, P. E., Wennberg, P., & Hammarström, A. (2015). Poor breakfast habits in adolescence predict the metabolic syndrome in adulthood. Public health nutrition, 18(01), 122-129.

• https://genomicsolutionsnow.com/Content/Library/Poor-breakfast-habits-in-youth-linked-to-MetSyn-as-adults-WM.pdf