UABDivulga - Barcelona recerca i innovació

Overweight and obesity have become major public health problems due to the alarming increase in their prevalence across all age groups and their consequences for physical, psychological, and social health. Numerous studies have shown that excess weight increases the risk of chronic diseases (such as metabolic and cardiovascular conditions), in addition to affecting quality of life and generating high healthcare costs. During the transition to adulthood, university students represent a particularly vulnerable group, as they often maintain unhealthy eating patterns: they frequently consume ultra-processed foods, refined sugars, saturated and trans fats, as well as excessive sodium. They often replace balanced meals with quick or pre-cooked options, have irregular eating schedules, and show low consumption of fruits, vegetables, fiber, and essential micronutrients (such as vitamin D, calcium, and magnesium). These habits, combined with academic stress, sedentary behavior, and lifestyle changes typical of university life, promote weight gain and negatively impact physical health and emotional well-being, potentially consolidating and persisting into adulthood.

Our study applied network analysis to identify the interconnections between nutritional patterns and physical, psychological, and sociodemographic correlates in young university students (aged 18–25) with overweight and/or obesity. The results showed that the variable with the highest centrality (both in terms of relevance and connectivity) was stress level, identified as a bridge node within the network. Two other notable variables were a nutritional pattern characterized by vitamin and mineral intake and the presence of arterial hypertension. The analysis revealed three main clusters of nodes: a) insulin level, glucose level, and HOMA-IR index (homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance); b) cholesterol and triacylglycerols; and c) sociodemographic profile, psychological state, body mass index, and arterial hypertension.

These results suggest that stress reduction can contribute to improvements in both mental health and metabolic and nutritional variables in university students with overweight or obesity. In particular, teaching these students stress management and coping techniques could help reduce the risk of their psychological correlates (such as anxiety, depression, mental fatigue, sleep disturbances, eating disorders, and substance use) and physical correlates (including cardiovascular diseases, insulin resistance, immune system weakening, hormonal imbalances, inflammation, digestive problems, muscle tension, and even chronic fatigue). Additionally, promoting a diet rich in vitamins and minerals, controlling hypertension, and encouraging physical activity could significantly improve overall health and reduce the risks associated with excess weight.