Associations of physical activity, disordered eating, and depressive symptoms with academic performance among Saudi university students

Background and objectives: Academic performance is shaped by various behavioral and psychological factors. However, the effects of physical activity, depressive symptoms, and disordered eating on academic success, particularly among university students in Saudi Arabia, remain underexplored. This study investigates the individual and combined associations of these factors on GPA among Saudi university students. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted from December 2024 to June 2025 involving a non-probability convenience sample of 400 students from various Saudi universities. Data were collected using validated instruments, including the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ-SF), the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) for assessing depression, and the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire-Short Form (EDE-QS). Descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and multiple linear regression analyses were utilized to identify associations and predictors of academic performance. Results: The majority of participants were female (79.8%) with a median age of 21. More than half (53%) reported low levels of physical activity, and 50.7% exhibited clinically significant depressive symptoms. Elevated behavioral symptoms of disordered eating, assessed using the behavioral subscale of the EDE-QS, were commonly observed among participants. Regression analysis showed that adherence to WHO-recommended physical activity levels, enrolment in medical disciplines, and lower behavioral symptoms of eating disorders were associated with higher GPA. In contrast, depression and cognitive eating concerns were not meaningfully associated with academic performance. Conclusion: 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. These findings highlight the necessity of implementing integrated health promotion strategies within academic institutions that address both mental health and lifestyle behaviors to enhance student success.