The association between breakfast consumption patterns and physical fitness

Abstract

Aim: The purpose of this study was to examine the association between breakfast consumption patterns and physical fitness variables based on a nationwide study in Korea focused on non-elderly and elderly adults. Methods: A total of 2798 adults (men = 1662, women = 1136; aged 20–64 years) and 625 elderly people (men = 263, women = 362; aged over 65 years) participated in The Survey of National Physical Fitness in 2015, conducted by the Korea Institute of Sport Science and Korea Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. The breakfast consumption pattern was collected via the self-report survey. Physical fitness variables in the adult group (grip strength, sit-ups, standing long jump, 50 m dash, sit-and-reach, and 20 m shuttle-run) and the elderly group (grip strength, sit-ups, sit-to-stand, sit-and-reach, back scratch, one-leg standing with eyes open, and six-minute walk) were directly measured. The association between breakfast consumption patterns and physical fitness variables were then evaluated by conducting one-way analysis of variance and post-hoc testing of Tukey. Results and conclusion: Adult men showed significant differences in sit-ups (P = 0.043), standing long jump (P = 0.005), 50 m dash (P = 0.008), and sit-and-reach (P = 0.047) among the four breakfast pattern groups. Adult women showed significant differences in sit-ups (P = 0.018), standing long jump (P = 0.007), and 50 m dash (P = 0.044). However, both elderly men and women showed no significant differences in all physical fitness variables (P > 0.05). In Korean adults, the physical fitness variables, sit-ups (muscular endurance), standing long jump (power), and 50 m dash (speed), could be differentiated based on breakfast consumption patterns. However, in the elderly population, physical fitness variables showed no significant differences based on breakfast consumption patterns.