Effects And Association Of Skipping Breakfast On Academic Performance In Medical Students

Background: Breakfast is considered as a most important meal of the day for providing energy to body and to brain for improved learning. The habits of skipping breakfast may affect performance mentally and physically whole day. The objective of this study is to evaluate the effects and association of skipping breakfast on academic performance in medical students.

Subjects and methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in medical students of Dow University of Health Sciences (DUHS) and Lyari Medical College Karachi. From March to September in 2019. After approval of research by the Lyari Medical College Karachi ethics review committee. Total 440 students were enrolled after taking consent. Students having history of gastro intestinal diseases and pregnancy were excluded. Data collection was done by using a self- administered close ended questionnaire. The first part of the questionnaire asked about Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) up to the last semester examination results. The second part of the questionnaire enquired the breakfast consumption pattern. Whereas the last part asked about the respondent’s perception on their cognitive aspects and general physical aspects with regards to breakfast consumption. The data was analyzed using SPSS version 22. Chi square test was used to analyze the qualitative data.

Results: The CGPA of breakfast skippers was <3.00, whereas breakfast takers had good grade points.

Conclusion: It was concluded that skipping breakfast have negative impacts on health and academic performance of the medical students.