Evaluation of skipping breakfast and school meal in relation to headache among Secondary school students in Tikrit City

Abstract

Nisreen M. Ibraheem, Muna M. Ibraheem, Mayada K. Mohammed, Ammar L., Nihad N. Helal, Usama J. Abdulqader, Duaa Salim, Ola Hakeem.

Background: Breakfast is consider to be the most important meal of the day. It provides the essential nutrients needed for the day's activities. Many pupils and students hear their parents say that breakfast is the most important meal. Many factors lead to skipping breakfast as sleeping in late or busy lessons and homework schedule. Lack of breakfast in the body has a profound effect on body systems function and it can lead to food headache and other symptoms. Skipping breakfast or school meals lead to hypoglycemia therefore brain does not regularly receive enough glucose. Hypoglycemia can trigger headaches and migraines.
Aim: Evaluate the relation between skipping breakfast and school meal in relation to headache among Secondary school students in Tikrit City
Subject and methods: The study is a cross-sectional study that had conducted from 1st of November 2019 to 10th of April 2020 on 400 students in Tikrit secondary school using a questionnaire. All data management and analysis done by manual statistical methods.
Results: There were 50% skipped breakfast and school meal, and 30% of them complain from headache. The study found major cause to left breakfast was loss of appetite.
Conclusion: There was a relationship between headache and leave breakfast and school meal.