Diet quality and its associated factors among adolescents in high schools of Rawalpindi and Islamabad

Introduction Adolescence is a critical developmental stage during which dietary behaviors have profound impacts on physical health, mental well-being, and academic performance. Objective The objective of this study was to examine the associations between diet quality and academic performance, body image perceptions, and demographic factors. Methods n = 281 adolescents aged 15–18 years from public and private high schools in Rawalpindi and Islamabad were selected for the study. A cross-sectional study design was incorporated and the data were gathered through the Diet Quality Questionnaire (DQQ), Kuppuswamy Socioeconomic Scale and Body Satisfaction and Image Questionnaire. Results The analysis showed that 42.7 of % students possess a moderate diet and 57.3% possessed a poor diet. Diet quality was significantly associated with class grade, age, gender, socioeconomic status, body image and academic performance ( p < 0.001). Students with a lower socioeconomic status, girls, senior grade students, and younger students were more likely to have poor eating habits. Conclusion The findings present an urgent need for specific nutritional education and interventions in schools, in particular, among high-risk and vulnerable groups. Enhancing teenage diets can impact their psychological conditions, intellectual growth, and overall school performance.