ASSOCIATIONS BETWEEN BODY MASS INDEX (BMI), BREAKFAST, JUNK FOOD, WELL-BEING AND ACADEMIC ATTAINMENT

Andrew P. Smith,* PhD

ABSTRACT

Background: It is well established that a high Body Mass Index (BMI) is a risk factor for ill health, reduced well-being and decreased performance efficiency. This was examined here by investigating the associations between BMI, well-being and academic attainment of university students. The associations between breakfast, junk food consumption, well-being and academic attainment were also investigated. Methods: In the first study, one thousand two hundred and thirty-eight students completed an online survey that provided information on their BMI and well-being (measured by the Well-being Process Questionnaire). Examination and coursework marks were also available. The second study, with a sample size of three hundred and fifty-six students, included measures of the frequency of consuming breakfast and junk food. Results: High BMI scores (>24) were significantly associated with reduced positive well-being, increased negative well-being and lower academic attainment. These effects remained significant when established predictors of well-being and attainment were covaried. In the second study, skipping breakfast was associated with reduced well-being and lower academic attainment scores. Frequent consumption of junk food was also associated with lower academic attainment. Conclusion: High BMI scores were associated with reduced well-being and lower academic attainment scores. This result was also observed when skipping breakfast was examined. Frequent junk food consumption was associated with lower academic attainment scores. We now have a methodology that can investigate associations between diet, well-being and academic attainment. This methodology can now be extended using longitudinal and intervention studies.

Keywords: Body Mass Index (BMI); Skipping breakfast; Junk Food; Well-being; Academic attainment; University students.