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BMC Public Health
Published in: BMC Public Health 1/2013

Open Access 01-12-2013 | Research article

Factors associated with skipping breakfast among Inner Mongolia Medical students in China

Authors: Juan Sun, He Yi, Zhiyue Liu, Yan Wu, Jiang Bian, Yanyan Wu, Yuki Eshita, Gaimei Li, Qing Zhang, Ying Yang

Published in: BMC Public Health | Issue 1/2013

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Abstract

Background

Few studies on the breakfast consumption habits of medical students in China have been carried out. The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of skipping breakfast and factors associated with skipping breakfast among medical students in Inner Mongolia of China, and to assist in the design of interventions to improve breakfast consumption habits of medical college students in this region.

Methods

From December 2010 to January 2011 a cross-sectional survey was conducted among medical students in the Inner Mongolia Medical College using a self-administered questionnaire. The prevalence of skipping breakfast in relation to lifestyle habits was described and factors associated with breakfast consumption were identified using multiple logistic regression analysis.

Results

The overall prevalence of skipping breakfast was 41.7% and 23.5% for males and females, respectively. The Faculty of Medicine Information Management had the highest breakfast skipping prevalence. Logistic regression models found that the main factors associated with breakfast consumption habits among medical students were gender, class years of education, monthly expenses, faculty, appetite, sleeping quality, and the learning process; monthly expenses, sleeping quality, and the learning process showed a dose-dependent relationship.

Conclusions

Breakfast consumption was associated with many factors, most importantly monthly expenses, sleeping quality and the learning process. The prevalence of skipping breakfast is significantly higher compared recently reported figures for medical students in western countries and other areas of China. Improvement of breakfast education should be considered for students in which higher monthly expenses, poor sleeping quality, or a laborious learning process have been identified.
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Metadata
Title
Factors associated with skipping breakfast among Inner Mongolia Medical students in China
Authors
Juan Sun
He Yi
Zhiyue Liu
Yan Wu
Jiang Bian
Yanyan Wu
Yuki Eshita
Gaimei Li
Qing Zhang
Ying Yang
Publication date
01-12-2013
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Public Health / Issue 1/2013
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2458
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-13-42

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