Correlation of milk tea consumption with comorbid overweight/obesity and depressive symptoms among college students
Objective To explore the association of milk tea consumption with comorbid of overweight/obesity and depressive symptoms among college students,so as to provide a reference for promoting the physical and mental health of college students.Methods A questionnaire survey was conducted from August to October 2023 using convenience sampling among 13 920 students from nine universities in Shanghai,Jiangxi,and Hubei provinces(municipality directly under the central government).Information on college students'demographic characteristics,milk tea consumption,overweight/obesity status,and depressive symptoms was collected.Chi-square tests were used to compare the association between different demographic characteristics and milk tea con-sumption with comorbid overweight/obesity and depressive symptoms.Multivariate Logistic regression analysis was performed to infer the strength of the association.Results The detection rate of comorbidity of overweight/obesity and depressive symptoms was 5.8%among college students.The univariate analysis revealed statistically significant differences in the detection rate of comorbidity of o-verweight/obesity and depressive symptoms among various groups,including gender,grade,parents'education level,only child status,family economic status,meeting moderate to high levels of physical activity standards,sleep quality,and frequent fast food consumption(x2=82.10,23.07,8.91,10.87,4.56,47.60,17.60,386.74,96.61,P<0.05).There were also statistically signifi-cant differences between groups based on milk tea consumption frequency and quantity(x2=42.12,38.76,P<0.01).Compared with the group of without consuming milk tea,Logistic regression analysis showed that college students who consumed milk tea 4-5 times and ≥6 times had higher risk of comorbid overweight/obesity and depressive symptoms(OR=1.98,2.46),and college students who consumed 1-1 500 mL and ≥3 000 mL of milk tea also had higher comorbidity risk(OR=1.52,1.22)(P<0.05).Conclusions Frequent and excessive milk tea consumption among college students may increase the risk of comorbid of over-weight/obesity and depressive symptoms.It is recommended to reduce the frequency and quantity of milk tea consumption to im-prove college students'physical and mental health.