One in four Indians skip breakfast: Study

Even as Food Security Bill for ensuring foodgrain supply to poor in the country gets debated in Parliament, a study by cereal maker Kelloggs India has found that one out of four Indians in metro cities, skip breakfast, which could lead to chronic diseases. With reasons ranging from paucity of time to fears of weight gain, the study conducted by College of Home Science, Nirmala Niketan, Mumbai, found 27 per cent respondents saying they skipped breakfast. Only three per cent respondents said they considered breakfast as essential part of the day, it added.

The study conducted over years, starting 2009, covered 3,619 respondents from Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai. “Even among those who are having breakfast, we found glaring deficits in nutrients as per the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA). About 72 per cent of the subjects are having nutritionally inadequate breakfast, especially in terms of iron and fibre intake,” Says Malathi Sivaramkrishnan, Research Director of College of Home Science, Nirmala Niketan, Mumbai. This was highest in Kolkata, followed by Mumbai and Delhi, while the best nutrient profile was that of Chennai, she added.

The study found that the tendency to skip breakfast was highest among adolescents (13-17 years) and women (54 per cent). ‘Paranthas’ emerged as the breakfast item of choice for Delhiites, while idlis and dosas found favour with South Indians. More respondents in Mumbai and Kolkata opted for bread, milk and eggs in breakfast.