Front Public Health. 2025 Nov 10;13:1651903. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2025.1651903. eCollection 2025.
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Adolescence is a critical developmental stage during which dietary behaviors have profound impacts on physical health, mental well-being, and academic performance.
OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to examine the associations between diet quality and academic performance, body image perceptions, and demographic factors.
METHODS: n = 281 adolescents aged 15-18 years from public and private high schools in Rawalpindi and Islamabad were selected for the study. A cross-sectional study design was incorporated and the data were gathered through the Diet Quality Questionnaire (DQQ), Kuppuswamy Socioeconomic Scale and Body Satisfaction and Image Questionnaire.
RESULTS: The analysis showed that 42.7 of % students possess a moderate diet and 57.3% possessed a poor diet. Diet quality was significantly associated with class grade, age, gender, socioeconomic status, body image and academic performance (p < 0.001). Students with a lower socioeconomic status, girls, senior grade students, and younger students were more likely to have poor eating habits.
CONCLUSION: The findings present an urgent need for specific nutritional education and interventions in schools, in particular, among high-risk and vulnerable groups. Enhancing teenage diets can impact their psychological conditions, intellectual growth, and overall school performance.
PMID:41306868 | PMC:PMC12646170 | DOI:10.3389/fpubh.2025.1651903
