Diet and behavioral problems at school in Norwegian adolescents

Figures & data

Table 1. Description of participants

	Boys (n=236)	Girls (n=239)	p ^c
Age (year) mean (SD)	14.6 (0.56)	14.6 (0.57)	0.633
Behavioral problems	41 (17.9)	28 (11.8)	0.064
Overweight (%)	30 (16.1)	15 (8.0)	0.015
Breakfast^a (%)	169 (76.8)	152 (66.1)	0.012
Lunch^a (%)	129 (59.2)	132 (50.6)	0.784
Dinner^a (%)	197 (90.4)	193 (84.3)	0.054
Supper^a (%)	146 (67.0)	116 (51.5)	≤0.001
Vegetables^b (%)	18 (8.5)	9 (3.9)	0.046
Fruits^b (%)	35 (16.4)	64 (28.6)	0.002
Fish^b (%)	99 (46.3)	103 (45.8)	0.919
Sugar-sweetened soft drinks^b (%)	180 (84.9)	145 (65.9)	≤0.001
Sweets^b (%)	57 (26.9)	42 (18.7)	0.040
Chocolate^b (%)	47 (22.1)	41 (18.1)	0.294
Savory snacks^b (%)	46 (21.8)	18 (8.0)	≤0.001
Pizza^b (%)	24 (11.3)	14 (6.2)	0.059
Burger/Hot dogs^b (%)	14 (6.6)	10 (4.4)	0.317

Proportion having behavioral problems at school, having meals regularly^a and having healthy and unhealthy food items often^b (n [%]).

^a‘Having meals regularly’ was defined as having meals six times a week or more.

^b‘Having healthy foods often’ was defined as having F&V twice a day or more often, and having fish one–three times per week or more. ‘Having unhealthy foods often’ was defined as having food four–six times a week or more often.

^cIndependent two-sample t-test continuous variables and Chi-square for categorical variables. Overweight is defined by Cole et al. 2000 14.

Table 2. Adjusted odds ratio (OR) and 95% CI for behavioral problems at school in relation to meal pattern^a

	n	OR^b (95% CI)	p
Breakfast
Seldom	101	1.0
Often	269	0.29 (0.15 − 0.55)	≤0.001
Lunch
Seldom	142	1.0
Often	225	0.65 (0.35 − 0.21)	0.176
Dinner
Seldom	43	1.0
Often	324	0.52 (0.22 − 1.23)	0.137
Supper
Seldom	149	1.0
Often	218	0.75 (0.40 − 1.42)	0.378

^a‘Having meals seldom’ is defined as having meals five times a week or less. ‘Having meals often’ is defined as having meals six times a week or more often.

^bAdjusted for sex and BMI.

Table 3. Adjusted odds ratio (OR) and 95% CI for behavioral problems at school in relation to intake of healthy food items^a

	Behavioral problems
	N	OR (95% CI)	p
Vegetables
Once a day or less	345	1.0
Twice a day or more	23	1.44 (0.46 − 4.49)	0.528
Fruit
Once a day or less	282	1.0
Twice a day or more	84	0.30 (0.10 − 0.87)	0.027
Fish
1–3 times per month or less	201	1.0
1–3 times per week or more	167	0.47 (0.24 − 0.91)	0.025

^aAdjusted for sex and BMI.

Table 4. Adjusted odds ratio (OR) and 95% CI for behavioral problems at school in relation to intake of unhealthy food items^a

	Behavioral problems
	N	OR (95% CI)	p
Sugar-sweetened soft drinks
1–3 times per month or less	86	1.0
1–3 times per week or more	271	2.80 (1.06 − 7.42)	0.039
Sweets
1–3 times per week or less	279	1.0
4–6 times per week or more	87	2.63 (1.39 − 4.98)	0.003
Chocolate
1–3 times per week	295	1.0
4–6 times per week	73	4.34 (2.26 − 8.36)	≤0.001
Potato chips
1–3 times per week	310	1.0
4–6 times per week	56	3.36 (0.41 − 1.54)	≤0.001
Pizza
1–3 times per week	334	1.0
4–6 times per week	32	3.54 (1.54 − 8.14)	0.003
Hamburger/hot dogs
1–3 times per week	348	1.0
4–6 times per week	20	3.25 (1.17 − 8.99)	0.023

^aAdjusted for sex and BMI.

Cole TJ, Bellizzi MC, Flegal KM, Dietz WH. Establishing a standard definition for child overweight and obesity worldwide: international survey. 2000; 320: 1240-3

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