Prevalence of Breakfast Skipping and Associated Health Outcomes among Medical Students: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background: Breakfast skipping is becoming very common among young adults and can lead to adverse physical, behavioural, and sleep-related health outcomes. However, a thorough evaluation of its short- and long-term consequences in Indian college populations remains limited.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of breakfast skipping among college students and to find its association with short-term symptoms, long-term dietary and functional consequences, sleep quality, and body mass index (BMI).

Methods: A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted among undergraduate students aged 17–30 years at medical colleges across India over three months. Data were collected using a structured, pretested questionnaire assessing demographic characteristics, breakfast consumption patterns, reasons for skipping breakfast, short-term symptoms, dietary behaviours, functional health outcomes, sleep quality, and BMI. Breakfast skipping was defined as consuming breakfast on fewer than five days per week. Sleep quality was assessed using a validated sleep quality scale (SATED questionnaire). BMI was categorized according to World Health Organization criteria. Data were analysed using Jamovi software version 2.7.18. Descriptive statistics summarized prevalence with 95% confidence intervals. Associations were evaluated using chi-square tests. A p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results: Prevalence of breakfast skipping among participants was 45.7%. A statistically significant association was observed between breakfast skipping and fatigue. No association was found between breakfast skipping and other short-term consequences, long term eating behaviors, BMI. Association between breakfast skipping and unsatisfactory sleep was statistically significant.

Conclusion: Breakfast skipping is a common behaviour and is associated with notable short-term consequences like fatigue and unsatisfactory sleep quality. Although no significant relationship was observed with BMI and long-term outcomes in this study. This highlights the importance of regular breakfast consumption as a part of healthy lifestyle practices. Further longitudinal studies are recommended to better understand the long-term health implications of breakfast skipping.