Dietary intake and educational outcomes among Australian university students: cross-sectional and longitudinal associations.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to examine cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between dietary intake and educational outcomes (EO) in Australian first-year university students. DESIGN: This cross-sectional and longitudinal study measured outcomes of interest at three points over 1 year. Measures included self-reported dietary patterns and dietary intake via a three-day estimated food record. Objective EO (corresponding semester grade point average (GPA), overall GPA and graduation status) variables were extracted from academic records. Cross-sectional and longitudinal associations were examined using regression models and generalised estimating equations, respectively. SETTING: A large university in Queensland, Australia. PARTICIPANTS: Participants (n 80) were first-year students who had completed high school in the previous year. RESULTS: Some significant associations were found with semester GPA, including: (a) moderate positive associations between serves of vegetables and semester GPA at time point 2 and over time; and (b) a weak negative association between Na intake and semester GPA at time point 2. Although insignificant, meaningful negative associations were found between alcohol consumption and semester GPA at time point 1 and over time. Some significant associations were also found with graduation status, including: (a) a positive association between meeting Australian carbohydrate recommendations and graduation status; and (b) a negative association between Fe intake and graduation status, both at time point 1. CONCLUSIONS: Both cross-sectional and longitudinal findings highlight positive associations between vegetable intake and EO and negative associations between alcohol consumption and EO. Further relevant work is needed with larger, more variable samples in demographic, dietary and EO characteristics.

Physical Activity, Sedentary Behavior, and Educational Outcomes Among Australian University Students: Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Associations.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to examine cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between physical activity (PA), sedentary behavior (SB), and educational outcomes (EO) in first-year university students in Australia. METHOD: Participants (N = 80) engaged in 3 data collection points (semesters 1, 2, and 3) that included self-reported and device-based PA and SB, and objective EO measures. Cross-sectional associations were examined using linear and binary logistic regressions, and longitudinal associations were examined using generalized estimating equations. RESULT: Overall, results indicated some positive but weak cross-sectional associations between some device-based and self-reported measures of PA and EO outcomes when controlling for confounders. Self-reported SB was negatively associated with semester GPA at time point 3 after adjusting for confounders (ß = -0.224; 95% confidence interval, -0.446 to -0.001; P < .05). No other significant cross-sectional or longitudinal associations were identified. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that SB may be a more important target healthy behavior than PA when aiming to influence EO, and that related interventions may be more appropriate in second rather than first-year university students. Further research is needed to better understand this relationship that uses larger sample sizes, follows students beyond first year, and includes measures that distinguish between leisure and educational screen time.

Physical activity, sedentary behavior and educational outcomes in university students: A systematic review.

ObjectiveTo systematically review available evidence focusing on the relationship between physical activity (PA), sedentary behavior (SB), and educational outcomes (EO), among university students. Method: Articles published in English and up to April 2019 were eligible to be included in the review if they examined associations between either PA or SB measures and EO in undergraduate university students. Results: Thirty-five articles met the eligibility criteria. The majority of papers used self-report measures of PA and SB and were rated as demonstrating poor quality (22/35). Evidence indicated no associations with EO for overall PA, MPA, VPA, and indeterminate associations for MVPA and leisure-based screen time. Conclusion: Mixed findings for PA, SB, and EO were found. Future studies should use more rigorous designs, including robust measures of relevant outcomes, to further our understanding of this area.