Physical activity and disordered eating behaviors play a crucial role in influencing academic performance among Saudi university students, while depression, despite its high prevalence, did not serve as an independent predictor of GPA.
Key Findings
Methods
The majority of Saudi university student participants were female and young, with a median age of 21.
Cross-sectional survey conducted from December 2024 to June 2025.
Non-probability convenience sample of 400 students from various Saudi universities.
79.8% of participants were female.
Median age of participants was 21 years.
Results
More than half of participants reported low levels of physical activity.
53% of participants reported low levels of physical activity.
Physical activity was assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ-SF).
WHO-recommended physical activity levels were used as a reference standard in regression analysis.
Results
Approximately half of participants exhibited clinically significant depressive symptoms.
50.7% of participants exhibited clinically significant depressive symptoms.
Depression was assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9).
Despite high prevalence, depression did not serve as an independent predictor of GPA in regression analysis.
Results
Elevated behavioral symptoms of disordered eating were commonly observed among participants.
Disordered eating was assessed using the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire-Short Form (EDE-QS).
The behavioral subscale of the EDE-QS was used to assess behavioral symptoms.
Elevated behavioral symptoms of disordered eating were described as 'commonly observed among participants.'
Results
Adherence to WHO-recommended physical activity levels was positively associated with higher GPA in regression analysis.
Multiple linear regression analyses were used to identify predictors of academic performance.
Adherence to WHO-recommended physical activity levels was identified as a positive predictor of GPA.
This association was independent of other variables included in the model.
Descriptive statistics and chi-square tests were also utilized alongside regression analyses.
Results
Enrollment in medical disciplines was associated with higher GPA.
Enrollment in medical disciplines was identified as a positive predictor of GPA in regression analysis.
This was one of three significant predictors identified alongside physical activity and lower behavioral symptoms of eating disorders.
Results
Lower behavioral symptoms of eating disorders were associated with higher GPA, while cognitive eating concerns were not meaningfully associated with academic performance.
Lower behavioral symptoms of eating disorders were identified as a predictor of higher GPA in regression analysis.
The EDE-QS was used to separately assess behavioral symptoms and cognitive eating concerns.
Cognitive eating concerns were not meaningfully associated with academic performance.
This suggests a distinction between behavioral and cognitive dimensions of disordered eating in relation to GPA.
Results
Depression was not an independent predictor of GPA despite its high prevalence among the sample.
Regression analysis did not find depression to be meaningfully associated with academic performance.
50.7% of participants had clinically significant depressive symptoms as measured by the PHQ-9.
The authors noted this finding highlights the complexity of the relationship between mental health and academic performance.
Alotaibi M, Alghamdi F, Almousa N, Almalkia R, Alfaifi R, Alturki H, et al.. (2026). Associations of physical activity, disordered eating, and depressive symptoms with academic performance among Saudi university students.. Frontiers in public health. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2026.1769363