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Abstract Background Colleges and universities are currently facing the major public health issue of poor sleep quality. Sleep quality must be taken seriously to maintain the students’ emotional and physical well-being. Thus, this study sought to determine how university students’ levels of physical activity related to the quality of their sleep, as well as to explore the mechanisms via which physical activity affects sleep and provide suggestions for improving it. Methods A total of 883 university students from Ganzhou City, Jiangxi Province, China participated in the study. Their physical activity, sleep quality, ruminative thinking levels, and depression were assessed using various questionnaires. Results Through the mediating effects of rumination and depression as well as the chain-mediated effects of these two factors, physical exercise changed the quality of sleep. Conclusion University students’ sleep quality can be improved by increasing their physical activity and decreasing ruminative thinking and depression levels.

Abstract Background With the rapid development of society, teenagers have more access to individuals with perfect bodies and are becoming more concerned about their body image. Currently, few studies assess body image and eating disorders comprehensively in China. Given the seriousness of these issues, there is an urgent need to understand the current state of body image and eating behaviors among Chinese people and formulate preventive strategies. Methods In this study, 1711 college students between 17 and 23 years old in southern China completed relevant anthropometric measurements, essential information and three questionnaires. Multiple linear regression was used to screen the variables, and sex invariant analysis was used to determine whether to separate men and women to fit the structural equation model. Finally, the path diagram of the structural equation model was used to explore the complex relationship between body dissatisfaction and overeating. Results Our results found that 69.4% of participants with a body mass index (BMI) within the normal range were dissatisfied with their weight. Further, body dissatisfaction directly or indirectly leads to overeating. Additionally, exercise played a mediating role in the body dissatisfaction and overeating of college students. Conclusions If BMI directs body dissatisfaction, it may lead to overeating. As a mediating factor in structural equation modelling, exercise may provide strategies to reduce body dissatisfaction and prevent overeating.