Effect of a Habit of Skipping Meals on Dietary Life of College Students

Abstract

The nutrient intake, dietary habit and state of health of 3 groups of college students were investigated. Three groups consisted of “125 female students living with family”, “105 female students living on their own” and “60 male students living on their own”. We studied how the habit of skipping meals affected their dietary life and state of health.
1) The nutrients, average intakes of which were found to be less than RDA, were Ca (75-80% of RDA) and Fe (60-70% of RDA) among females and Ca (85%) among males. The intakes by female students of these nutrients per 1, 000kcal were higher than those by male students.
2) Percentage of students who skipped meals habitually (more than one meals skipped during the 3-day period) were as follows. Breakfast was skipped by 11% of female students living with family, 27% of female students living on their own, and 53% of male students living on their own. Lunch was skipped by 8% of female students living with family, 7% of female students living on their own, and 12% of male students living on their own. Supper was skipped by 2-5% of male students living on their own.
3) Nutrient intakes were lowered by 10-25% due to skipping breakfast and by 35% due to skipping lunch. This was particularly notable for female students living on their own who skipped breakfast. Quality and quantity of the diets including between-meal snacks of the students who skipped no meals were satisfactory.
4) The irregularity in taking meals and lack of interests in their dietary life were apparent among those who habitually skipped meals.
5) There was no significant relation between the state of health and the habit of skipping meals investigated through presence/absence of subjective symptoms.