Factors influencing eating habit of skipping breakfast and correlation with nutritional status, quality of sleep, and level of stress among employers at selected tertiary care hospital

Skipping breakfast is an unhealthy habit that can lead to various health issues. This study analyzed factors influencing breakfast skipping and its correlation with nutritional status, sleep quality, and stress levels among employees. A total of 300 employees were selected using a convenience sampling method. A self-structured questionnaire was used to assess the skipping of breakfast, Body Mass Index (BMI) was used to measure the nutritional status, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) was used to evaluate the sleep quality, and Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) was used to assess stress levels. Data analysis included frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation, with Chi-Square tests for association. Results showed that 71.4% of employees skipped breakfast, with 46% skipping on alternate days, 35% daily, and 19% occasionally. Travel was the most common reason (49%). Among participants, 61% had a normal BMI (mean = 24.0, SD = 3.7), 60.3% had good sleep quality (mean = 5.1, SD = 2.6), and 70.3% experienced moderate stress (mean = 23.5, SD = 5.1). A significant association was found between breakfast skipping and income and family type. The findings highlight the need for interventions to reduce the habit of skipping breakfast among employees.