Breakfast consumption and mental health: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies

ABSTRACT

Objective

Several studies have been conducted on the relationship between breakfast consumption and mental health with conflicting results. Therefore, the present systematic review and meta-analysis was undertaken to summarize evidences on the association between skipping breakfast and mental health.

Methods

We searched online databases for all related papers through the comprehensive international data bases of Institute of PubMed/ MEDLINE, ISI/WOS and Scopus up to December 2019, using relevant keywords. Overall, 14 studies were included in this systematic review and meta-analysis.

Results

The total sample size of all selected studies was 399,550 individuals with age range of 6 to ≥65 years old. We found a significant positive association between skipping breakfast and Odds Ratio (OR) of depression (pooled OR: 1.39; 95% CI: 1.34–1.44), stress (pooled OR: 1.23; 95% CI: 1.04–1.43) and psychological distress (pooled OR: 1.55; 95% CI: 1.47–1.62). In contrast, there was no significant association between skipping breakfast and anxiety in all age cohort (pooled OR: 1.31; 95% CI: 0.97–1.65). However, subgroup analysis based on age stratification showed that there was a significant positive association between skipping breakfast and anxiety in adolescences (pooled OR: 1.51; 95% CI: 1.25–1.77).

Conclusion

In conclusion, skipping breakfast was positively associated with odds of depression, stress and psychological distress in all age groups and anxiety in adolescence, underlining impact of breakfast on mental health.

KEYWORDS:

• Breakfast
• mental health
• depression
• anxiety
• stress
• psychological distress
• systematic review
• meta-analysis

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Ethics approval and consent to participate: Ethical consideration

This systematic review and meta-analysis study was not performed on human or animal subjects. The Ethics council of National Institute for Medical Research Development (NIMAD), Tehran, Iran, 26/12/2018.

Authors' contributions

All authors contributed to the conceptualization of the systematic review. OS, FZG conducted the data searching. HZ, SD and HA conducted the data screening and quality assessment. MP and MZ conducted the data extraction and drafted the manuscript. MQ performed meta-analysis and drafted the manuscript. All authors provided critical review of drafts and have read and approved the final manuscript.

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by National Institute for Medical Research Development (NIMAD), [grant number 977185].

Notes on contributors

Hoda Zahedi

Hoda Zahedi 33 years old, PhD in Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics.

Shirin Djalalinia

Shirin Djalalinia 47 years old, PhD in Epidemiology.

Omid Sadeghi

Omid Sadeghi 30 years old, PhD in Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics.

Fateme Zare Garizi

Fatemeh Zare Garizi 25 yeras old, Medical student.

Hamid Asayesh

Hamid Asayesh 39 years old, master in Nursing.

Moloud Payab

Moloud Payab 35 years old, PhD in Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics.

Maryam Zarei

Maryam Zarei 40 years old, PhD in Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics.

Mostafa Qorbani

Mostafa Qorbani 42 years old, PhD in Epidemiology.