Objective:

To evaluate the consumption of cold school breakfast (CSB) and its association with weight gain in the preschool and school beneficiary population in San Luis Potosí.

Materials and methods:

A longitudinal study was conducted on 255 girls and boys from 3 to 8 years old. The weight gain was measured during one year and the total energy intake was estimated by means of a frequency of consumption questionnaire. The energy from CSB was divided into terciles and its association with weight gain was estimated through multiple linear regression.

Results:

In schoolchildren, the interaction between the energy tercile of CSB and sex showed that the girls of the second and third tercile gained 500g (p=0. 063) and 800g (p=0. 015) more, respectively.

Conclusion:

Higher energy consumption from school breakfast is associated with an increase in weight gain in school-age girls.