Tehran University of Medical Sciences Iranian Journal of Public Health 2251-6085 54 1 2025 01 05 166 174 Tamara Dimovic Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, Kragujevac, Serbia Nikoleta Janicijevic Department of Hygiene and Ecology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, Kragujevac, Serbia Dalibor Stajic Department of Hygiene and Ecology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, Kragujevac, Serbia Nela Djonovic Department of Hygiene and Ecology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, Kragujevac, Serbia Dragan Vasiljevic Department of Hygiene and Ecology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, Kragujevac, Serbia Jelena Vuckovic Filipovic Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, Kragujevac, Serbia Radisa Vojinovic Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, Kragujevac, Serbia Mladen Grujicic Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology of Health Centar Bijeljina, Bijeljina, Republic of Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina Milos Potezica Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, Kragujevac, Serbia Jovana Radovanovic Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, Kragujevac, Serbia Viktor Selakovic Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, Kragujevac, Serbia Katarina Janicijevic Department of Social Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, Kragujevac, Serbia Snezana Radovanovic Department of Social Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, Kragujevac, Serbia Olgica Mihaljevic Department of Pathophysiology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, Kragujevac, Serbia Marija Sekulic Department of Hygiene and Ecology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, Kragujevac, Serbia 2024 03 05 2024 06 01 Background: Students making the transition from high school to university find it difficult to maintain good eating routines/lifestyles and mental health, due to time constraints and stress. The goal of the study was to analyse the correlation between previously mentioned topics. Methods: We included 948 students, aged 18-27, at the Faculty of Medical Sciences in Serbia and the research was conducted in 2020. Chi-square was used for statistical analysis. Modified WHO questionnaire for lifestyle and eating habits was used, as well as standardized questionnaires for anxiety and depression. Results: Respondents who had more prominent symptoms of depression (moderate or severe) and anxiety had a significantly higher percentage of eating less than three meals a day (47.7%, 35.7%), skipped breakfast (38.6%, 33.5%), consumed alcohol (11.4%, 3.8%), used energy drinks (38.6%, 31.7%), were on some type of diet (36.6%, 30.2%), were not satisfied with their appearance (66.7%, 53%) and not engaging in physical activity (43.2%, 33.1%). Significant predictors for severe depressive and anxiety symptoms were the consumption of alcoholic beverages, energy drinks, satisfaction with personal appearance and physical activity during a day. Conclusion: The results suggest that some of the eating and lifestyle habits were linked to higher risks of developing depressive or anxiety symptoms. https://ijph.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijph/article/view/34826 https://ijph.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijph/article/download/34826/8447