What question did this study set out to answer?

This research aims to explore the relationship between diet quality and the severity of metabolic syndrome symptoms among college students.

April 4, 2026

Diet quality and metabolic syndrome symptom severity in first-semester college students

Key Points

This research aims to explore the relationship between diet quality and the severity of metabolic syndrome symptoms among college students.
Participants were first-year students at Pennsylvania State University, assessed twice during the semester.
Diet quality and metabolic syndrome symptoms were evaluated at two visits, one early and one near the semester's end.
Statistical analyses were conducted to determine associations between diet quality and MetS symptom severity.
Worse diet quality correlated with increased metabolic syndrome symptom severity at both assessment visits.
Diet quality declined across the semester, while metabolic syndrome symptoms worsened significantly over time.

Abstract

Objective. The present study examined associations between diet quality and metabolic syndrome (MetS) symptom severity across the first semester in college. Participants. Participants were incoming first-year students at the Pennsylvania State University. Methods. Visit 1 (n = 110) occurred within the first 4 wk of the fall 2021 semester; visit 2 (n = 103) occurred during the last 2 wk of classes. At each visit, diet quality and MetS symptoms were assessed. Results. Poorer diet quality was associated with worse MetS symptom severity at visit 1 (β = -0.44, p p for t-test p for t-test = 0.007) while MetS symptom severity increased (standardized mean change = 0.45, p Conclusions. Lifestyle-based primary prevention programs aimed at improving diet and reducing MetS risk across the entry into college are needed.

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Diet quality and metabolic syndrome symptom severity in first-semester college students

Key Points

Abstract

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