Loneliness is associated with unhealthful dietary behaviors and physical inactivity among US college students.

To evaluate dietary and physical activity behavior in relation to loneliness among college students. Three-hundred forty-six incoming first-year students in Fall 2019 at a large state University in the US. : Students completed online surveys in Fall 2019. Multivariable regression analyses were used to model associations of health behaviors with loneliness, adjusting for gender and body mass index (BMI). : Two-hundred sixty-four students were included in this analysis. Students in loneliness score ranges of 4-6 and 7-9 have higher fat diet than students in score range of 10-12 ( = .007). Sedentary (19.2%) and low active (53.8%) behaviors were more frequent in students reporting high loneliness than those reporting low loneliness (13.8%, 36.7%, respectively) ( = .006). : In this sample of college students, loneliness was related to altered diet quality and physical inactivity. Interventions to reduce loneliness may have a positive effect on health promotion in this population.