Anxiety and depression symptoms in relation to body mass index, fruit and vegetable intake, and physical activity among nutrition students in Peru: a cross-sectional study
Background: Anxiety and depression are common among university students and may negatively affect their wellbeing and academic performance. However, evidence regarding their co-occurrence and their relationship with BMI and lifestyle-related factors in Peruvian students remains limited. This study a...
Guardado en:
| Autor principal: | |
|---|---|
| Formato: | Artículo |
| Lenguaje: | inglés |
| Publicado: |
2026
|
| Materias: | |
| Acceso en línea: | Enlace permanente (DOI o Handle) Ver en el sistema de origen |
| Etiquetas: |
Sin Etiquetas, Sea el primero en etiquetar este registro!
|
| _version_ | 1881700511697076224 |
|---|---|
| author | Jacksaint Saintila |
| author_browse | Jacksaint Saintila |
| author_facet | Jacksaint Saintila |
| author_sort | Jacksaint Saintila |
| collection | Producción científica |
| description | Background: Anxiety and depression are common among university students and may negatively affect their wellbeing and academic performance. However, evidence regarding their co-occurrence and their relationship with BMI and lifestyle-related factors in Peruvian students remains limited. This study aimed to analyze the association between anxiety, depression, BMI, and lifestyle-related factors among nutrition students at a private university in northern Peru. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 405 university students. Anxiety and depressive symptoms were assessed using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-2 (GAD-2) and the Patient Health Questionnaire-2 (PHQ-2). A cut-off score of ≥3 was used to identify clinically relevant symptoms. Data were collected on body mass index (BMI), sleep duration, physical activity (PA), and fruit and vegetable (F/V) consumption. Associations were evaluated using Poisson regression models with robust variance to estimate prevalence ratios (PR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). Results: The prevalence of anxiety and depression symptoms was 57.3 and 26.4%, respectively. Anxiety symptoms was significantly associated with depression (aPR = 4.53; 95% CI: 2.63-7.80). Compared with normal weight, overweight and obesity were associated with a higher prevalence of anxiety (overweight: aPR = 1.22; 95% CI: 1.01-1.48; obesity: aPR = 1.43; 95% CI: 1.10-1.87) and depression (overweight: aPR = 1.27; 95% CI: 1.00-1.62; obesity: aPR = 1.61; 95% CI: 1.12-2.32). Engaging in PA ≥ 5 times per week was associated with a lower prevalence of depression (aPR = 0.35; 95% CI: 0.14-0.85), whereas consuming <5 servings/day of F/V was associated with a higher prevalence of depression (aPR = 1.52; 95% CI: 1.14-2.02). Conclusion: Anxiety and depression symptoms were highly prevalent and strongly interrelated. Excess body weight, low PA, and low F/V consumption were associated with poorer mental health indicators, highlighting the importance of integrated health-promotion strategies among university students. |
| format | Article |
| id | openalex:W7167624383 |
| institution | UPeU |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2026 |
| publishDateRange | 2026 |
| publishDateSort | 2026 |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | openalex:W7167624383Anxiety and depression symptoms in relation to body mass index, fruit and vegetable intake, and physical activity among nutrition students in Peru: a cross-sectional studyJacksaint Saintilaanxietydepressionbody mass indexobesityoverweightfruit and vegetable intakephysical activitysleep durationnutrition studentsuniversity studentsmental healthlifestyle factorsPeruhealth promotiondiet and mental healthcomorbid depression and anxietyHealth and Lifestyle StudiesObesity, Physical Activity, DietHealthcare professionals’ stress and burnoutBackground: Anxiety and depression are common among university students and may negatively affect their wellbeing and academic performance. However, evidence regarding their co-occurrence and their relationship with BMI and lifestyle-related factors in Peruvian students remains limited. This study aimed to analyze the association between anxiety, depression, BMI, and lifestyle-related factors among nutrition students at a private university in northern Peru. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 405 university students. Anxiety and depressive symptoms were assessed using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-2 (GAD-2) and the Patient Health Questionnaire-2 (PHQ-2). A cut-off score of ≥3 was used to identify clinically relevant symptoms. Data were collected on body mass index (BMI), sleep duration, physical activity (PA), and fruit and vegetable (F/V) consumption. Associations were evaluated using Poisson regression models with robust variance to estimate prevalence ratios (PR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). Results: The prevalence of anxiety and depression symptoms was 57.3 and 26.4%, respectively. Anxiety symptoms was significantly associated with depression (aPR = 4.53; 95% CI: 2.63-7.80). Compared with normal weight, overweight and obesity were associated with a higher prevalence of anxiety (overweight: aPR = 1.22; 95% CI: 1.01-1.48; obesity: aPR = 1.43; 95% CI: 1.10-1.87) and depression (overweight: aPR = 1.27; 95% CI: 1.00-1.62; obesity: aPR = 1.61; 95% CI: 1.12-2.32). Engaging in PA ≥ 5 times per week was associated with a lower prevalence of depression (aPR = 0.35; 95% CI: 0.14-0.85), whereas consuming <5 servings/day of F/V was associated with a higher prevalence of depression (aPR = 1.52; 95% CI: 1.14-2.02). Conclusion: Anxiety and depression symptoms were highly prevalent and strongly interrelated. Excess body weight, low PA, and low F/V consumption were associated with poorer mental health indicators, highlighting the importance of integrated health-promotion strategies among university students.Articlehttps://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2026.1833831https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/nutrition/articles/10.3389/fnut.2026.1833831/pdfW7167624383enFrontiers in Nutrition2296-861X2026-07-07 |
| spellingShingle | anxiety depression body mass index obesity overweight fruit and vegetable intake physical activity sleep duration nutrition students university students mental health lifestyle factors Peru health promotion diet and mental health comorbid depression and anxiety Health and Lifestyle Studies Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet Healthcare professionals’ stress and burnout Jacksaint Saintila Anxiety and depression symptoms in relation to body mass index, fruit and vegetable intake, and physical activity among nutrition students in Peru: a cross-sectional study |
| title | Anxiety and depression symptoms in relation to body mass index, fruit and vegetable intake, and physical activity among nutrition students in Peru: a cross-sectional study |
| title_full | Anxiety and depression symptoms in relation to body mass index, fruit and vegetable intake, and physical activity among nutrition students in Peru: a cross-sectional study |
| title_fullStr | Anxiety and depression symptoms in relation to body mass index, fruit and vegetable intake, and physical activity among nutrition students in Peru: a cross-sectional study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Anxiety and depression symptoms in relation to body mass index, fruit and vegetable intake, and physical activity among nutrition students in Peru: a cross-sectional study |
| title_short | Anxiety and depression symptoms in relation to body mass index, fruit and vegetable intake, and physical activity among nutrition students in Peru: a cross-sectional study |
| title_sort | anxiety and depression symptoms in relation to body mass index fruit and vegetable intake and physical activity among nutrition students in peru a cross sectional study |
| topic | anxiety depression body mass index obesity overweight fruit and vegetable intake physical activity sleep duration nutrition students university students mental health lifestyle factors Peru health promotion diet and mental health comorbid depression and anxiety Health and Lifestyle Studies Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet Healthcare professionals’ stress and burnout |
| topic_facet | anxiety depression body mass index obesity overweight fruit and vegetable intake physical activity sleep duration nutrition students university students mental health lifestyle factors Peru health promotion diet and mental health comorbid depression and anxiety Health and Lifestyle Studies Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet Healthcare professionals’ stress and burnout |
| url | https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2026.1833831 https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/nutrition/articles/10.3389/fnut.2026.1833831/pdf |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT jacksaintsaintila anxietyanddepressionsymptomsinrelationtobodymassindexfruitandvegetableintakeandphysicalactivityamongnutritionstudentsinperuacrosssectionalstudy |