Does better school adaptability lead to healthier eating behaviors?

The obesity risks associated with unhealthy diets and the critical importance of early-life health interventions underscore the urgency of promoting healthy eating behaviors among adolescents. While prior research has largely focused on internal family influences, this study examines the role of school adaptability as an external environmental factor in shaping adolescents' eating behaviors. Using data from the Database of Youth Health (DYH), we find that higher levels of school adaptability are associated with significantly healthier dietary patterns among adolescents, with particularly pronounced effects among rural and boarding students. Mechanism analysis indicates that school adaptability influences adolescents' healthy eating behaviors through emotional well-being, eating habits, and media exposure. These findings provide a new perspective on improving adolescents' dietary equity through enhanced school adaptability.