OBJECTIVES: , This study therefore assessed the pattern of breakfast consumption in undergraduate students and its associated factors.

METHODS: , A cross-sectional study was carried out among 302 students of allied health sciences in Olabisi Onabanjo University, Sagamu, Ogun State, selected via multi-stage sampling. Data was collected with the aid of a semi-structured, self-administered questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS 20.0. Relevant descriptive and inferential statistics were calculated. Participation was fully voluntary.

RESULTS: The mean age of respondents was 20±2 years, 73.5% of the participants were females while 26.5% were males. Only 32.5% of the respondents consumed breakfast on a daily basis while 67.5% skipped breakfast . About 4% of the total respondents ate breakfast weekly. Majority (67.9%) of the individuals had a low Individual Dietary Diversity Score (IDDS). There was a significant relationship between breakfast consumption and academic performance of the students (p=0.000) as well as breakfast consumption and eating outside the home (p=0.004). Out of the breakfast skippers in this study (67.5%) majo1rity of them skipped breakfast due to time constraints as well as financial constraints.

CONCLUSIONS: Majority of the respondents had no knowledge about the importance of breakfast consumption. The pattern of breakfast consumption of the respondents was irregular and was majorly influenced by time constraints, financial constraints and fasting purposes.

Keywords: Breakfast, undergraduates, associated factors.