Status and Associated Factors of Breakfast Consumption Among Chinese Residents: A National Cross-Sectional Study

While the importance of breakfast for human health is widely acknowledged, there is limited understanding of the factors influencing breakfast habits among Chinese residents. We conducted a nationwide cross-sectional survey between June 20 and August 31, 2022, analyzing weekly breakfast frequency, food categories, and associated factors to daily breakfast consumption using multivariable logistic regression, with subgroup analyses by gender and residence (urban or rural). Among 21,875 participants, 41.0% reported non-daily breakfast consumption. Common breakfast items included staples like rice, wheat, and corn (70.5%), eggs (56.2%), dairy products (42.0%), and soy drinks (36.8%), while less frequently consumed items included meat products (26.3%), potatoes (23.4%), fresh vegetables and fruits (20.2%), and pickled vegetables (18.2%). Behavioral factors such as sleeping 6–7 h and abstaining from smoking and sugar-sweetened beverages, along with health factors like better quality of life, family health, and higher self-efficacy, were positively associated with daily breakfast consumption. Depression was negatively associated. Sociodemographic factors including female gender, living in southern China, and having children were positively associated, whereas rural residency, higher education levels, being a student or unemployed, and living alone were negatively associated. Subgroup analyses revealed pronounced variations in breakfast habits by residence (urban vs. rural) but fewer differences by gender. Non-daily breakfast consumption is prevalent among Chinese residents, with multiple sociodemographic, behavioral, and health factors influencing this behavior. Region- and gender-specific strategies are essential to promote healthy breakfast habits, address disparities, and encourage healthier breakfast practices across diverse subgroups.