Researchers studied 281 teenagers in Pakistan to understand how their eating habits affect their school performance and how they feel about their bodies. They found that most teens (57%) eat poorly, with only 43% eating a moderate diet. The study discovered that eating better food is connected to doing better in school, feeling better about yourself, and having better overall health. Teens from poorer families, girls, and older students were more likely to eat unhealthy foods. The researchers say schools need to teach teenagers about healthy eating, especially those who are most at risk of eating poorly.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: How the quality of food teenagers eat connects to their school grades, how they feel about their bodies, and other personal factors like age, gender, and family income.
  • Who participated: 281 teenagers between 15-18 years old from both public and private high schools in two Pakistani cities (Rawalpindi and Islamabad). The group included students from different family income levels and both boys and girls.
  • Key finding: More than half of the teenagers (57%) had poor eating habits, while only 43% ate a moderate diet. Students who ate better food got better grades in school, felt better about how they looked, and were healthier overall. The connection was very strong and unlikely to be due to chance (p < 0.001).
  • What it means for you: If you’re a teenager, improving what you eat could help you do better in school and feel better about yourself. This is especially important if you come from a lower-income family or are a girl, as the study found these groups are more likely to eat poorly. Talk to your school about nutrition education programs.

The Research Details

This was a cross-sectional study, which means researchers took a snapshot of teenagers’ eating habits at one point in time rather than following them over months or years. The researchers gave 281 teenagers three different questionnaires (surveys) to fill out. One questionnaire asked about what they eat and how healthy their diet is. Another measured their family’s income level and social status. The third asked how they feel about their body and appearance. All the teenagers were between 15-18 years old and attended high schools in Rawalpindi and Islamabad, Pakistan. The researchers then looked for connections between diet quality and school performance, body image, age, gender, and family income.

This research approach is useful because it shows us what’s happening right now with teenagers’ eating habits and how those habits connect to important parts of their lives like school success and mental health. By studying a real group of teenagers in actual schools, the findings are more relevant to real-world situations than lab studies would be. Understanding these connections helps schools and parents know where to focus nutrition education efforts.

This study has some strengths: it included a decent number of teenagers (281), it looked at multiple important factors (diet, grades, body image, income), and it studied both public and private schools so it captures different groups. However, because it’s a snapshot study rather than following students over time, we can’t be completely sure that eating better actually causes better grades—it could be that students who do well in school also happen to eat better. The study was done in Pakistan, so results might be somewhat different in other countries with different food cultures and school systems.

What the Results Show

The study found that most teenagers in these schools eat poorly: 57.3% had poor diets and only 42.7% had moderate diets. None of the teenagers studied had a ‘good’ diet. There was a very strong connection between diet quality and school grades—students who ate better food got better grades. The connection was so strong that it’s very unlikely to have happened by chance. Diet quality was also strongly connected to how students felt about their bodies: teenagers who ate better felt better about how they looked. Age, gender, and family income all played a role in diet quality. Younger students and girls were more likely to eat poorly than older students and boys. Students from families with lower incomes were significantly more likely to have poor eating habits compared to students from wealthier families.

The study also found that grade level in school mattered—senior students (older students in higher grades) were more likely to have poor diets than younger students. The connection between diet quality and body image was important: students with poor diets were more likely to have negative feelings about their bodies. These findings suggest that poor eating habits affect teenagers in multiple ways—not just their physical health but also their mental health and school performance.

This research supports what other studies have shown: what teenagers eat really does matter for their development and success. Previous research has shown that good nutrition helps with brain development and school performance, and this study confirms that pattern in a Pakistani population. The finding that girls and lower-income students eat worse aligns with other research showing that these groups face more barriers to healthy eating. This study adds to growing evidence that nutrition education in schools is important, especially for vulnerable groups.

This study has some important limitations to keep in mind. Because it only looked at teenagers at one point in time, we can’t prove that eating better actually causes better grades—we can only say they go together. The study was done only in two Pakistani cities, so the results might not apply to teenagers in other countries or even other parts of Pakistan. The study relied on teenagers filling out surveys about what they eat, which might not be completely accurate—people sometimes forget what they ate or don’t report it honestly. The study didn’t measure actual body weight or health markers, only how students felt about their bodies. Finally, the study didn’t look at why students eat poorly, such as whether it’s due to lack of money, lack of knowledge, or food availability.

The Bottom Line

Schools should create nutrition education programs for all students, with special focus on girls and students from lower-income families (moderate confidence). Families should work with schools to improve food options in cafeterias and teach teenagers about healthy eating (moderate confidence). Teenagers should try to eat more whole foods like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, and fewer processed foods (moderate confidence). Healthcare providers should screen teenagers for poor eating habits and provide guidance (moderate confidence).

Teenagers should care about this because eating better could help them do better in school and feel better about themselves. Parents should care because they can influence what their kids eat at home. Teachers and school administrators should care because nutrition affects student performance and mental health. Girls and teenagers from lower-income families should pay special attention, as the research shows they’re at higher risk for poor eating habits. This research is less directly applicable to very young children or adults, though the principles about nutrition and performance likely apply to them too.

You probably won’t see major changes in school grades overnight, but research suggests that improving diet quality can lead to noticeable improvements in focus and energy within 2-4 weeks. Better body image feelings might take 4-8 weeks as you feel healthier and more energetic. Significant improvements in academic performance might take a full school term (3-4 months) as better nutrition supports brain development and concentration. Long-term health benefits build over months and years.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track daily meals and rate diet quality on a scale of 1-10 each day. Also track weekly grades or test scores to see if there’s a connection between eating better and doing better in school. Monitor mood and energy levels daily to see if nutrition affects how you feel.
  • Use the app to set a goal like ’eat at least one fruit or vegetable at each meal’ or ‘drink water instead of sugary drinks.’ Log what you eat each day and get feedback on whether you’re meeting your nutrition goals. Set reminders for meal times and healthy snack options.
  • Review your eating patterns weekly and look for trends. Compare weeks when you ate better with weeks when you ate poorly, and see if your grades, mood, or energy were different. Set monthly nutrition goals and track progress. Share your data with a parent, school counselor, or doctor to get feedback and support.

This research shows connections between diet quality and school performance in a specific group of Pakistani teenagers, but it cannot prove that eating better will definitely improve your grades or health. Individual results vary based on many factors. Before making major changes to your diet, especially if you have any health conditions or take medications, talk to your doctor or a registered dietitian. This information is for educational purposes and should not replace professional medical advice. If you’re struggling with body image or eating concerns, please reach out to a school counselor, doctor, or mental health professional.