Table 1.
Measurement of meal frequencies at age 15, 19 and 27 years and categorisations of variables
| Item description | Response categories | Categorisation when applied as determinant variable | Dichotomization when applied as outcome variable |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Age 15 |
|
|
|
| |
|
Breakfast/lunch |
|
| How often do you eat .... |
1) Every day |
1) Daily |
|
| a) Breakfast |
2) Several times a week |
2) Several times a week |
|
| b) Lunch |
3) Once a week |
3) More seldom |
|
| c) Hot evening meal |
4) More seldom |
|
|
| |
|
Evening meal |
|
| |
|
1) Daily |
|
| |
|
2) More seldom than daily |
|
|
Age 19 |
|
|
|
| |
|
Breakfast/lunch |
All three meal types |
| How often do you eat .... |
1) Every day |
1) Daily |
1) Daily |
| a) Breakfast |
2) Several times a week |
2) Several times a week |
2) More seldom than daily |
| b) Lunch |
3) Once a week |
3) More seldom |
|
| c) Hot evening meal |
4) More seldom |
|
|
| |
5) Never |
Evening meal |
|
| |
|
1) Daily |
|
| |
|
2) More seldom than daily |
|
|
Age 27 |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
All three meal types |
| How often do you eat .... |
1) Every day |
|
1) Daily |
| a) Breakfast |
2) Several times a week |
|
2) More seldom than daily |
| b) Lunch |
3) Once a week |
|
|
| c) Evening meala |
4) More seldom |
|
|
| 5) Never |
aObserve the change in item formulation from “hot evening meal” at baseline and first follow-up to “evening meal” at second follow-up.