This is a preprint, a preliminary version of a manuscript that has not completed peer review at a journal. Research Square does not conduct peer review prior to posting preprints. The posting of a preprint on this server should not be interpreted as an endorsement of its validity or suitability for dissemination as established information or for guiding clinical practice.
Research
Ahlam Badreldin El Shikieri
Taibah University
Corresponding Author
ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7508-5470
License:
This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License. Read Full License
Background
Students' academic performance remains one of the ongoing topics of debate among educators, academicians, and policy-makers. We aimed to assess the effect of dietary habits, demographic characteristics, and body mass index (BMI) on academic performance.
Method
: An epidemiological, cross-sectional, retrospective study design was conducted. Data were collected from 385 full-time, Saudi undergraduate students at Taibah University aged between 18–24 years old. Students were asked about their breakfast, fast food, and soft drink consumption, and their daily number of meals. Information about their gender, residence in hostels, and smoking status were obtained. Grade point average (GPA) was used to assess academic performance. BMI was also calculated. All statistical analyses were performed using the SPSS software program version 20.
Results
More females (n = 290; 75.3%) than males were included. High academic performers were non-smokers (P < 0.0005) and didn't stay in hostels (P = 0.026). BMI associated negatively with academic performance. Females had better academic performance (95%) compared to males (58%, P < 0.0005), GPA (2.72 vs 3.53, P < 0.0005 respectively), lower number of meals (Mean: 2.31 vs 1.99), and low prevalence of overweight/obesity (43% vs 30%).
Conclusion
Nutrition education programs targeting Taibah University students are to be developed to raise awareness about the importance of healthy eating and normal body weight.
Keywords
Dietary Habits, Demographic characteristics, BMI, Academic Performance, University Students, Al Madinah Al Munawarah, Saudi Arabia
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This is a preprint, a preliminary version of a manuscript that has not completed peer review at a journal. Research Square does not conduct peer review prior to posting preprints. The posting of a preprint on this server should not be interpreted as an endorsement of its validity or suitability for dissemination as established information or for guiding clinical practice.
Research
Ahlam Badreldin El Shikieri
Taibah University
Corresponding Author
ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7508-5470
Badges
Prescreen
This manuscript passed our Prescreen assessment
Complete author information
Appropriate declaration statements
Potential risks to human health
Prescreen
History
CURRENT STATUS: Posted
Version 1
Posted 07 Jan, 2021
No community comments so far
Metrics
Comments: 0
PDF Downloads: ...
HTML Views: ...
Subject Areas
Nutrition & Dietetics
License:
This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License. Read Full License
Background
Students' academic performance remains one of the ongoing topics of debate among educators, academicians, and policy-makers. We aimed to assess the effect of dietary habits, demographic characteristics, and body mass index (BMI) on academic performance.
Method
: An epidemiological, cross-sectional, retrospective study design was conducted. Data were collected from 385 full-time, Saudi undergraduate students at Taibah University aged between 18–24 years old. Students were asked about their breakfast, fast food, and soft drink consumption, and their daily number of meals. Information about their gender, residence in hostels, and smoking status were obtained. Grade point average (GPA) was used to assess academic performance. BMI was also calculated. All statistical analyses were performed using the SPSS software program version 20.
Results
More females (n = 290; 75.3%) than males were included. High academic performers were non-smokers (P < 0.0005) and didn't stay in hostels (P = 0.026). BMI associated negatively with academic performance. Females had better academic performance (95%) compared to males (58%, P < 0.0005), GPA (2.72 vs 3.53, P < 0.0005 respectively), lower number of meals (Mean: 2.31 vs 1.99), and low prevalence of overweight/obesity (43% vs 30%).
Conclusion
Nutrition education programs targeting Taibah University students are to be developed to raise awareness about the importance of healthy eating and normal body weight.
Figure 1
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