Correlation of nutrition, exercise and risky behavior in college students

Abstract

Food habits, exercise and impulsivity affect college students on a day to day basis. By making poor food and exercise habits impulsive behavior tends to increase. The current study compares food and exercise habits to impulsive behavior in 22 undergrad psychology students. It was hypothesized that those with poor food and exercise habits would be more impulsive. To study the correlation between these, participants received a questionnaire on food habits, a questionnaire on exercise, and a Balloon Analog Risk Task (BART). In accordance with our hypothesis, those who exercised more often earned more points on the hard balloon condition than those who did not exercise as often. This can be assimilated as a correlation between exercise and impulsivity. The results suggest a trend in those with poor food habits having a faster response time compared to those that rated higher in healthier food habits.