Associations of nutritional habits, lifestyle, and demographic factors with mental health outcomes among university students in Lebanon: a cross-sectional study.
Growing evidence highlights the role of dietary habits in shaping mental health outcomes, particularly among young adults. This study aimed to examine the associations between dietary intake of fat and sugar and mental health outcomes-specifically depression and anxiety-among university students in Lebanon.
A cross-sectional survey was conducted between January and May 2025 across five major universities in Lebanon. A total of 646 students aged 18-30 years completed a self-administered online questionnaire. Dietary intake of fats and free sugars was assessed using the validated Dietary Fat and Free Sugar Questionnaire (DFS). Mental health outcomes were measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 for depression (PHQ-9) and the General Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7). Descriptive statistics, bivariate analyses, and logistic regressions were performed to evaluate associations between dietary fat or sugar intake and mental health outcomes, adjusting for relevant confounders.
Among 646 university students (64.9% females, mean age = 20.8 ± 3.7 years), 74.8% reported depressive symptoms, 72.1% reported anxiety. The mean consumption of fat and sugar was 29 ± 6.7 and 15 ± 4.4, respectively using the DFS Fat and Sugar subscales. In multivariable analysis, depression was significantly associated with overall health, moderate alcohol consumption, physical activity, fat intake and sugar intake, while anxiety was significantly linked to overall health, caffeine consumption, sugar intake, but not fat intake.
Our findings call for integrated, holistic health promotion strategies within university settings that combine nutrition education, physical activity encouragement and mental health support.
A cross-sectional survey was conducted between January and May 2025 across five major universities in Lebanon. A total of 646 students aged 18-30 years completed a self-administered online questionnaire. Dietary intake of fats and free sugars was assessed using the validated Dietary Fat and Free Sugar Questionnaire (DFS). Mental health outcomes were measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 for depression (PHQ-9) and the General Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7). Descriptive statistics, bivariate analyses, and logistic regressions were performed to evaluate associations between dietary fat or sugar intake and mental health outcomes, adjusting for relevant confounders.
Among 646 university students (64.9% females, mean age = 20.8 ± 3.7 years), 74.8% reported depressive symptoms, 72.1% reported anxiety. The mean consumption of fat and sugar was 29 ± 6.7 and 15 ± 4.4, respectively using the DFS Fat and Sugar subscales. In multivariable analysis, depression was significantly associated with overall health, moderate alcohol consumption, physical activity, fat intake and sugar intake, while anxiety was significantly linked to overall health, caffeine consumption, sugar intake, but not fat intake.
Our findings call for integrated, holistic health promotion strategies within university settings that combine nutrition education, physical activity encouragement and mental health support.
Authors
Boutros Boutros, Papazian Papazian, Tawtah Tawtah, Merhi Merhi, Salameh Salameh, Fares Fares
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