Increased Prevalence of Breakfast Skipping in Female College Students in COVID-19.

Yokoro, Miyuki; Wakimoto, Keiko; Otaki, Naoto; Fukuo, Keisuke

Going outside the house was nationally restricted among countries affected with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). This study aimed to determine the prevalence of breakfast skipping among female college students during the COVID-19 emergency period. The cross-sectional survey was conducted from May 15, 2020, to June 1, 2020, among 164 female junior college students through the online survey using Google Form. Population of breakfast skipping during the emergency (26.7%) was significantly increased compared with that before the emergency (10.9%; P < .001). Interestingly, breakfast skipping during the emergency was a significant independent determinant for ≥1 to 2 kg of weight loss during the emergency (odds ratio = 7.09; 95% confidence interval = 1.88-26.75; P = .004) in participants who did not skip breakfast at the pre-emergency. The prevalence of breakfast skipping during the COVID-19 pandemic was significantly higher than that before the emergency in female college students. Breakfast skipping during the emergency was associated with short-term weight loss.