Breakfast skipping and excess weight among healthcare personnel in a hospital: a cross-sectional study

Calixto Aira M.; Alvarado Ortiz C.; Chaquila J.A. · Nutricion Clinica y Dietetica Hospitalaria (2025) · DOI: 10.12873/454calixto

Resumen

Objective: To evaluate the association between breakfast skipping and excess weight among healthcare personnel in a Peruvian hospital during 2022. Materials and Methods: A primary, observational, cross-sectional study was conducted. A probabilistic simple random sampling approach was employed. Individuals who skipped breakfast three days or fewer during the week were included in the “non-breakfast” group. Excess weight was determined by a Body Mass Index ≥25 kg/m2. Crude and adjusted Poisson regression models were applied to estimate the association, considering potential confounders such as physical activity, lifestyle habits, income, workload, and other characteristics. Results: A total of 195 participants were evaluated. Overall, 16.9% did not eat breakfast, and 56.9% had excess body weight. Women and technical staff exhibited twice the prevalence of excess body weight compared with their counterparts. Additionally, personnel reporting higher income levels had a higher prevalence of skipping breakfast. In the adjusted model, individuals who skipped breakfast had a 32% higher prevalence of excess body weight (aPR: 1.32; 95% CI: 1.02–1.71) compared with those who did eat breakfast. In the adjusted model, being female, being technical staff, and having a high workload were also associated with greater excess body weight. Conclusion: Interventions that promote healthier working conditions and lifestyle practices are needed to improve the quality of life and nutritional status of healthcare personnel.

Instituciones: Universidad San Ignacio de Loyola