Romana Maqsood Sheikh, Hasan Masood Khan, Najma Shoaib, Asim Maqsood Sheikh, Farah Deeba, Salahud Din.
Relationship of Breakfast Taking Practices and Weight among Female Students of Medical Colleges of Lahore.
Pak J Med Health Sci Jan ;6(2):343-7.

Aims: To evaluate the association between breakfast taking practices and weight among female students of medical colleges of Lahore. Methods: This study was a randomized cross sectional survey. A sample of 800 female students, aged 19-24 years were included in this study. A structured questionnaire was used to get information on breakfast taking practices; type of food consumed in breakfast. Height and weight of students were taken to calculate Body Mass Index. Results The percentage and frequencies of breakfast taking practices and Body Mass Index showed that 370(46%) students consumed breakfast regularly, 220(27.5%) students consumed breakfast irregularly, and 210(26.3%) students skipped or omitted breakfast. Out of 800 students, 439(54.9%) were of normal weight according to Body Mass Index, 185(23.1%) were under weight and 176(22%) were overweight. Association between breakfast taking practices and body Mass Index was found significant with p value of 0.04. Maximum numbers of normal weight students were taking breakfast regularly. The students with irregular breakfast practices showed highest percentage (25.9%) of overweight/obesity while a percentage (22.4%) of overweight/obesity was observed in students skipping breakfast. Association between breakfasts taking practices and weight gain over last two years was checked and was found significant with a p value 0.000. Those skipping breakfast were having maximum percentage (52.4%) of those who gained weight over the last two years. Conclusion: Skipping breakfast does have association with gain in weight. Though weight gain is not necessarily obesity but this gain in weight may become obesity in future.

PakMediNet -Pakistan's largest Database of Pakistani Medical Journals - http://www.pakmedinet.com