ObjectiveTo explore the association between daily diet and physical activity with myopia in middle school students in Shanghai, so as to provide evidence for the prevention of myopia.

MethodsA stratified cluster random sampling of 795 students from two middle schools and one high school in Jiading District of Shanghai was selected. Data was extracted from 2017 adolescent health related behaviors surveillance in Shanghai.

ResultsThe reported rate of myopia among middle and high school students was determined to be 57.2%. The proportion of middle school students reporting no drinking soda, no eating desserts and no eating fried foods during the past week were 45.2%, 16.4% and 31.1%, respectively. The proportion of reporting eating fresh fruit, eating vegetables, drinking a cup of milk or yogurt among middle school students every day were 45.8%, 73.2% and 40.7%, respectively. The proportion of physical activity over 60 minutes and moderate intensity exercise over 30 minutes every day were 25.6% and 15.4%, respectively. The proportion of no drinking soda, no eating fried foods, eating fresh fruit every day, eating vegetables every day, and physical activity over 60 minutes during the past week in the non-myopia group were significantly higher than those in the myopia group(P < 0.01). Middle school students eating fresh fruit every day and physical activity over 60 minutes every day were determined to be protective factors for myopia(P < 0.01).

ConclusionThe proportions of Middle and high school students in Shanghai reporting healthy diet and physical activity are relatively low. Healthy diet and sufficient physical activity may be protective against myopia.