P157 - ASSOCIATIONS BETWEEN MEAL-SKIPPING BEHAVIORS AND ACADEMIC OUTCOMES IN HIGHER EDUCATION: A CROSS -SECTIONAL STUDY

P157

ASSOCIATIONS BETWEEN MEAL-SKIPPING BEHAVIORS AND ACADEMIC OUTCOMES IN HIGHER EDUCATION: A CROSS -SECTIONAL STUDY

B. Bhattacharjee^1,2,*, I. Dutta¹, J. Nandan³, N. Prasad⁴, A. S. Adhikary³

¹Dietetics and Applied Nutrition, Amity University Kolkata, ²Dietetics, Clinical Nutrition and Wellness Solutions, ³Statistics, ⁴Mathematics, Amity University Kolkata, Kolkata, India

Rationale: Meal skipping is increasingly common among college students & may negatively affect academic performance & mental health. While earlier studies explored habits like breakfast consumption, few have thoroughly examined the link between meal skipping, stress, depression, BMI, & academic outcomes.

Methods: A cross-sectional study conducted among 200 college students (18–40) years across diverse disciplines. A validated,self-administered questionnaire used to collect data on demographics, dietary patterns, meal-skipping frequency, academic performance (CGPA), BMI, peer influence, stress (PSS), depression (MDI), & eating disorders (SCOFF, EDE-Q). Data analyzed using descriptive statistics, Chi-square tests, Goodman & Kruskal’s Gamma, &logistic regression.

Results: 79.5% skipped at least one meal daily, breakfast most frequently skipped.
A slight positive link was found between meal skipping & lower academic scores.
80%  moderate stress; 28% severe depression (PSS & MDI scores).
Meal skipping showed a mild correlation with higher BMI.
Peer influence had a weak negative association with meal skipping, eating disorders showed a mild positive link (SCOFF & EDE-Q).

Image:

Conclusion: The study highlights that meal-skipping behavior is significantly associated with moderate to high stress, depressive symptoms, higher BMI, and poorer academic outcomes. Living arrangements, time mismanagement, and peer dietary habits further compound these behaviors. 

References: Pengpid, S. & Peltzer, K. (2020). Skipping breakfast and its link to health risk behaviours and mental health in university students.
Rai, F. H. et al. (2023). Factors associated with breakfast skipping among undergraduates.
Cohen, J. F. W. et al. (2021). School meals and their association with academic performance and nutrition.
Ahmad, R. et al. (2021). Stress levels among college students.
Sofar, S. M. et al. (2019). Skipping breakfast, academic performance, and BMI.

Disclosure of Interest: None declared