Breakfast frequency

• In Belgium, the majority of individuals aged 3 years and above (68%) have breakfast daily. A smaller proportion have breakfast either 5-6 days (6%) or 2-4 days per week (12%). A minority have breakfast once per week (4%), 3 days per month or less (4%), or never (5%).
• The frequency of having breakfast varies by age.
• Children (3 to 9 years) (91%) and older adults (65 years and above) (92%) have the highest proportion of having breakfast daily or at least 5 days per week. This proportion decreases among adolescents (10 to 17 years) (69%) and young adults (18 to 39 years) (59%), then increases again among middle-aged adults (40 to 64 years) (73%).
• Children (3 to 9 years) (2%) and older adults (65 years and above) (6%) are least likely to skip breakfast or have it 3 days per month or less. This proportion increases among adolescents (10 to 17 years) (8%) and young adults (18 to 39 years) (15%), then decreases again among middle-aged adults (40 to 64 years) (11%).
• The frequency of breakfast consumption shows no differences by sex, except in young adults (18 to 39 years). In this age group, men are less likely than women to have breakfast at least 5 days a week (55% vs 64%) and more likely to skip breakfast (7% vs 5%) or have it 3 days per month or less (10% vs 7%). 

• Crude = results weighted for season, age, sex, and socioeconomic status. 
• Older adults (65 years and above) do not include institutionalised (including those in care homes) or hospitalised individuals, or those who could not be interviewed without assistance (e.g., individuals with dementia).

• Crude = results weighted for season, age, sex, and socioeconomic status.
• The education level is calculated at the household level by considering the highest diploma obtained by: (i) the respondents or their partner for adults (aged 18 years and above), or (ii) the father and mother (or carer, if applicable) for children and adolescents (aged 3 to 17 years). However, for simplicity, we refer to the education level of individuals rather than the education level of their households.

• There is a clear link between the level of education and the regularity of having breakfast.
• The proportion of individuals having breakfast at least 5 days a week is lower in the low-educated group (70%) compared to the mid-educated group (78%) and the high-educated group (81%).
• The proportion of individuals skipping breakfast or having it less than once per week is higher in the low-educated group (13%) compared to the mid-educated group (7%) and the high-educated group (6%).

• Adjusted = results weighted for season, age, sex, and socioeconomic status, and adjusted according to age and sex based on linear regression model (using the Belgian population of 2022-2023 as reference).
• The answer options ‘5-6 days per week’ and ‘one time per day’ were grouped as ‘at least 5 days per week’.

• Overall, in the Belgian population aged 15 to 64 years, the proportion of individuals having breakfast at least 5 days per week progressively decreased from 77% in 2004 to 73% in 2014-2015, and further to 66% in 2022-2023.
• In 2022-2023, the proportion of individuals aged 15 to 64 years having breakfast at least 5 days per week is lower in Wallonia (58%) compared to Flanders (71%) and Brussels (68%).
• In Flanders, the proportion of individuals aged 15 to 64 years having breakfast at least 5 days a week did not change from 2004 to 2014-2015 (78% vs 77%) but decreased in 2022-2023 (71%). In Wallonia, this proportion decreased from 75% in 2004 to 68% in 2014-2015, and further to 58% in 2022-2023.
• No conclusions over time can be made for Brussels due to the low number of participants in Brussels in 2004 and 2014-2015. 

• Adjusted = results weighted for season, age, sex, and socioeconomic status, and adjusted according to age and sex based on linear regression model (using the Belgian population of 2022-2023 as reference).
• The answer categories ‘never’ and ‘3 days per month or less’ (which is the regrouping of the original answer options ‘less than one day per month’ and  ‘1-3 days per month’) were grouped as ‘3 days per month or less’.

• Overall, in the Belgian population aged 15 to 64 years, the proportion of individuals having breakfast 3 days per month or less increased from 9% in 2004 to 13% in 2014-2015, but did not change in 2022-2023 (13%).
• In 2022-2023, the proportion of individuals aged 15 to 64 years having breakfast 3 days per month or less is higher in Wallonia (16%) compared to Flanders (11%).
• In Wallonia, the proportion of individuals aged 15 to 64 years having breakfast 3 days per month or less increased from 11% in 2004 to 19% in 2014-2015, but did not change in 2022-2023 (16%).
• In Flanders and Brussels, we were unable to draw any conclusions about changes over the years.

• Adjusted = results weighted for season, age, sex, and socioeconomic status, and adjusted according to age and sex based on linear regression model (using the Belgian population of 2022-2023 as reference).
• The answer options ‘5-6 days per week’ and ‘one time per day’ were grouped as ‘at least 5 days per week’.

• In young and middle-aged adults the proportion of individuals having breakfast at least 5 days per week decreased over the years: the lowest percentages were observed in 2022-2023 (59% and 73% respectively) compared to 2014-2015 (68% and 79% respectively) or 2004 (70% and 84% respectively).
• The proportion of adolescents aged 15 to 17 years having breakfast at least 5 days per week decreased from 73% in 2004 to 63% in 2014-2015 but did not change in 2022-2023 (59%).