Relationships between mental health, eating behavior and physical activity among university students

a narrative review

Abstract

University life is a period of intense change that affects students' physical and emotional well-being. This study aimed to review the scientific literature on the influence of anxiety and depression on food choices and physical activity among university students. The search was conducted in the PubMed database, using the population, concept, and context framework to structure the research question. MeSH descriptors and free terms were used in combination with the Boolean operators OR and AND. The studies were exported to Rayaan software, and titles and abstracts were screened for selection. Of the 79 articles retrieved, 14 studies published between 2018 and 2025 were included in this review, encompassing different study designs and sociocultural contexts. The results indicate that high levels of stress, anxiety, and depression are associated with disordered eating patterns, higher consumption of ultra-processed foods, and lower levels of physical activity. Emotional eating, body dissatisfaction, and a sedentary lifestyle were recurring themes, with emphasis on gender disparities. Methodological limitations were identified, such as the predominance of cross-sectional designs and self-reported instruments. The study concludes that integrating mental health, nutrition, and physical education is essential for developing intersectoral strategies to promote student health.