Associations between Body Mass Index (BMI), breakfast, junk food, well-being and academic attainment.

Smith, Andrew P. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8805-8028 2024. Associations between Body Mass Index (BMI), breakfast, junk food, well-being and academic attainment. European Journal of Pharmaceutical and Medical Research 11 (10) , pp. 363-368.

Preview

PDF - Published Version Available under License Creative Commons Attribution. Download (431kB) | Preview

Abstract

Background: It is well established that a high Body Mass Index (BMI) is a risk factor for ill health, reduced well-being and decreased performance efficiency. This was examined here by investigating the associations between BMI, well-being and academic attainment of university students. The associations between breakfast, junk food consumption, well-being and academic attainment were also investigated. Methods: In the first study, one thousand two hundred and thirty-eight students completed an online survey that provided information on their BMI and well-being (measured by the Well-being Process Questionnaire). Examination and coursework marks were also available. The second study, with a sample size of three hundred and fifty-six students, included measures of the frequency of consuming breakfast and junk food. Results: High BMI scores (>24) were significantly associated with reduced positive well-being, increased negative well-being and lower academic attainment. These effects remained significant when established predictors of well-being and attainment were covaried. In the second study, skipping breakfast was associated with reduced well-being and lower academic attainment scores. Frequent consumption of junk food was also associated with lower academic attainment. Conclusion: High BMI scores were associated with reduced well-being and lower academic attainment scores. This result was also observed when skipping breakfast was examined. Frequent junk food consumption was associated with lower academic attainment scores. We now have a methodology that can investigate associations between diet, well-being and academic attainment. This methodology can now be extended using longitudinal and intervention studies.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Prime Centre Wales (PRIME)
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology
Publisher:	Society for Advance Healthcare Research
ISSN:	2394-3211
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	4 October 2024
Date of Acceptance:	29 September 2024
Last Modified:	24 Oct 2024 14:17
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/172599

Actions (repository staff only)

Edit Item