Impact of Breakfast Skipping on Cognitive Performance among Medical Students: A Cross-Sectional Study

Dr. Katta  Nalini; Dr. K. Prabhakara  Rao; Dr Wunnava  Maruthi

doi:10.51168/sjhrafrica.v7i3.2638

Autori

Dr. Katta Nalini Final Year Postgraduate, Department of Physiology, Government Siddhartha Medical College, Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh
Dr. K. Prabhakara Rao Professor and Head, Department of Physiology, Government Siddhartha Medical College, Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh
Dr Wunnava Maruthi Professor and Head, Department of Physiology, Guntur Medical College, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.51168/sjhrafrica.v7i3.2638

Cuvinte cheie:

breakfast skipping, cognitive performance, medical students, academic performance, attention, memory

Rezumat

Background and objectives:

Breakfast skipping is increasingly common among young adults, including medical students, and is relevant to attention, memory, executive functioning, and academic performance. This study assessed the association between breakfast habits and cognitive performance among undergraduate medical students.

Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted in the Department of Physiology, Government Siddhartha Medical College, Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh, India, from January to June 2025. One hundred undergraduate medical students aged 18-25 years were enrolled. Participants were categorized as regular breakfast consumers (≥5 days/week) or breakfast skippers (≤2 days/week or irregular intake). Cognitive performance was evaluated using the Digit Span Test, Word List Recall Test, Trail Making Test, and Stroop Test. Academic performance was recorded from recent internal assessment scores. Data were analyzed using independent t-tests, chi-square tests, and Pearson correlation.

Results: The mean age was 21.3 ± 1.8 years; 52% were male, and 48% were female. Regular breakfast consumption was reported by 56 students, while 44 were breakfast skippers. Regular breakfast consumers had higher scores for attention and concentration (81.2 ± 7.6 vs. 72.5 ± 8.4, p < 0.01), immediate recall (77.5 ± 8.1 vs. 68.4 ± 9.2, p < 0.01), delayed recall (74.1 ± 6.9 vs. 64.7 ± 7.8, p < 0.01), and executive function (78.6 ± 7.2 vs. 70.3 ± 8.9, p < 0.05). Breakfast intake showed a positive correlation with academic performance (r = 0.42, p < 0.01).

Conclusion: Regular breakfast consumption was associated with better cognitive scores and academic performance among medical students.

Recommendations: Medical colleges should strengthen nutrition education, encourage timely morning meals, and integrate breakfast-promoting strategies into student wellness programs.

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