ArticleFrontiers in psychology2025
Academic exam periods and ultra-processed food consumption: evidence from supermarket transactions in a Colombian University.
Article in Frontiers in psychology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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Abstract
Introduction: Academic stress can change eating behavior and often leads to higher consumption of unhealthy foods. This study examines whether exam periods affect students' purchases of ultra-processed foods, using objective purchase data rather than self-reports. Methods: We analyze point-of-sale transaction data from a university supermarket in Colombia. We use a difference-in-differences design. Students are the treatment group and university staff are the control group. We compare ultra-processed food purchases across pre-exam, exam, and post-exam periods. Results: During exam weeks, students increase their purchases of ultra-processed foods by 12.9 percent relative to non-exam periods, with statistical significance at Discussion: The results provide causal evidence that exam-related stress or time constraints increase demand for ready-to-heat, ultra-processed foods. By relying on transaction data, this study overcomes limitations of self-reported measures. The findings highlight clear temporal patterns in stress-related or convenience-driven food choices and suggest relevant implications for campus nutrition policies and stress management interventions in academic settings.
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