Objectives: To identify familiar factors influencing breakfast consumption and choices at breakfast in European adolescents participating in the Healthy Lifestyle in Europe by Nutrition in Adolescence (HELENA) study.
Methods: The HELENA is a multicentre school-based study. A total of 3546 adolescents aged12.5-17.49 years responded to questions about breakfast habits and determinants about eating behavior during the academic year 2006-2007.
Results: 66% of boys and 58% of girls indicated to regularly consume breakfast. Boys whose parents support them to eat healthy are more likely to consume breakfast (OR, 0.61; 95% CI, 0.43-0.85). Girls whose peers eat healthy are more likely to consume breakfast (OR, 0.68; 95% CI, 0.51-0.91). Hunger (59%), taste (57%), health (48%) and parents (45%) are the most important factors influencing adolescents’ food choices at breakfast.
Conclusion: Parents’ and peers’ influences should be considered in the development and testing of intervention strategies.