Effect of skipping breakfast on cognition and learning in young adults

Abstract

Introduction and Aim: Consumption of breakfast has been commonly associated with cognitive parameters among school children and adolescents. The current cross-sectional study was conducted with the aim to investigate the effect of breakfast consumption/omission on cognitive functioning and learning among young adults. Materials and Methods: Sixty college-going students, divided into two groups such as breakfast consumers and breakfast skippers were asked to fill a physical condition-based study questionnaire. The results of which were assessed along with the performances given in a collective cognition-based task. The obtained data was retained and later analyzed by GraphPad Prism (version 5). Results: The overall performance, attentiveness, response time and alertness were significantly higher among the college-going breakfast consumers when compared to breakfast skippers thereby highlighting the importance of daily consumption of breakfast among young adults. Conclusion: Breakfast consumption is of paramount importance among college going students, omission of which could influence cognitive performances and behavioral aspects. Hence, academic programs should promote nutritionally balanced breakfast consumption among college students.