Details

Sub Category

Research: Nutritional habits/Weight gain

Many students often have poor dietary habits, characterised by inadequate nutrient intake and a high consumption of unhealthy foods. These poor dietary and sedentary patterns contribute to distress. Healthier dietary patterns are associated with greater resilience. Some research suggests first-year female students experienced significant weight gain, increased waist circumference, and body fat. All students exceeded the recommended intake for saturated fat, sugar, and sodium.

Gallo, L.A., Gallo, T.F., Young, S.L., Moritz, K.M., Akison, L.K., The Impact of Isolation Measures Due to COVID-19 on Energy Intake and Physical Activity Levels in Australian University Students, Nutrients, 2020. (link)

Whatnall, M.C., Patterson, A.J., Siew, Y.Y., Kay-Lambkin, F., Hutchesson, M.J., Are Psychological Distress and Resilience Associated with Dietary Intake Among Australian University Students? Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2019. (link)

Wilson, O. W. A., Walters, S. R., Naylor, M. E., & Clarke, J. C, Changes in Physical Activity and Motives following the Transition from High School to University. International Journal of Kinesiology in Higher Education, 2021. (link)

More Articles in Healthy Campus Projects

Research: Strengthening Student Nutrition Through Education

Many university students have limited nutrition knowledge, which can contribute to poor dietary habits and increased long-term health risks. This research was undertaken to investigate whether improving students’ understanding of nutrition translates into healthier food choices. Researchers conducted a scoping review, synthesising findings from a range of international studies that examined the relationship between nutrition […]

Research: When Play Affects Performance: Gaming and Student Wellbeing

Video gaming is highly prevalent among university students, yet its health associations remain poorly understood. Researchers surveyed university students in Western Australia, examining gaming behaviours alongside key indicators of wellbeing, including diet quality, physical activity, sleep, and stress. The findings indicate that higher levels of gaming are associated with poorer diet quality, reduced physical activity, […]

FISU Healthy Campus Program Signatories

Keep up to date

Interested in Healthy Campus Content? Sign up to our exclusive mailer.

Join the community

Stay up to date with Healthy Campus news from Australia and around the world.
UniSport acknowledges and pays respect to all traditional custodians of the lands of which we run, jump and throw throughout Australia. We pay respect to elders both past, present and emerging.
Copyright © 2026 UniSport. All Rights Reserved.