Body appreciation and motivation toward physical activity as predictors of eating habits in university students from the Peruvian Altiplano

Introduction and objective: during the university stage, eating habits may deteriorate due to factors such as increased academic responsibilities, greater autonomy in decision-making, and changes in daily routines. In the Peruvian highlands, these conditions are exacerbated by sociocultural and economic limitations, making it relevant to investigate the psychological factors that influence the eating behaviors of this population. The objective of the present study was to determine whether body appreciation and motivation toward physical activity predict eating habits among university students in the Peruvian highlands. Methodology: a quantitative, non-experimental, predictive design was adopted. The sample consisted of 866 university students (M= 22.04, SD= 3.633) who responded to the Body Appreciation Scale-2 (BAS-2), the PALMS scale, and the Eating Habits Questionnaire, all of which demonstrated adequate psychometric properties. Results: Both body appreciation (β= 0.148, p < 0.01) and motivation for physical activity (β= 0.270, p < 0.01) had a significant predictive effect on the eating habits of university students. Furthermore, the model showed a good fit to the data (F= 63.733, p < 0.01) and explained 12.9% of the variance in eating habits (R²= 0.129), highlighting the importance of psychological and motivational variables in shaping eating behaviors. Conclusions: Body appreciation and motivation for physical activity significantly predict eating habits among university students in the Peruvian Altiplano.