Ultraprocessed food, physical activity, and executive function: correlation and comparative study of university...

Correlation of ultraprocessed food (UPF) intake on executive function (EF) and physical activity (PA) in university students has become a relevant subject of interest that remains insufficiently understood. PA has a positive impact on cognition and emotional status, while UPF intake has been associated with sedentary behavior and lower cognitive performance. The present study aims to evaluate the correlation between UPF intake, PA, and EF in university students by comparing the self-reports of Mexican and Spanish youth, as well as determine significant differences between both samples in the variables of interest.

Undergraduate university students (n = 265, 18-25 years) who lived in Mexico City, Mexico and Salamanca, Spain, were included in the sample; a self-report online questionnaire was constructed including frequency of UPF intake, the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) Short Version and the Spanish version of the WEBEXEC Questionnaire.

Students in Mexico City show a significant positive correlation between PA and UPF intake, while Salamanca results indicate a significant correlation between sitting time and UPF intake, indicating that increased sedentary behavior (e.g. more sitting time or less PA) is related to increased UPF intake. Significant differences between both cities were found in sitting time and in UPF intake, while no statistically significant differences were found in EF and PA.

The results of the present study provide initial indications of the relationship between UPF intake, physical activity, and sitting time, and executive functions in university students. This is a population in which the effect of these variables has not yet been thoroughly studied, even though the university lifestyle presents risk factors for unhealthy habits.