scholarly journals The importance of precision: differences in characteristics associated with levels of food security among college students

2020 ◽  
Vol 23 (9) ◽  
pp. 1473-1483
Author(s):  
Jessica Soldavini ◽  
Maureen Berner
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
Food Security ◽  
International Student ◽  
Weight Status ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
High Food ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Food Security Status ◽  
Meal Plan ◽  
Level Variable

AbstractObjective:To estimate the prevalence of high, marginal, low and very low food security among a sample of college students and identify characteristics associated with the four different food security status levels and note differences in associations from when food security status is classified as food-secure v. food-insecure.Design:Cross-sectional online survey.Setting:A large public university in North Carolina.Participants:4829 college students who completed an online survey in October and November 2016.Results:Among study participants, 56·2 % experienced high, 21·6 % experienced marginal, 18·8 % experienced low and 3·4 % experienced very low food security. Characteristics significantly associated with food security status when using the four-level variable but not two-level variable were age, international student status and weight status. Characteristics that significantly differed between the marginal and high food security groups included age, race/ethnicity, year in school, international student status, employment status, financial aid receipt, perceived health rating, cooking frequency and participation in an on-campus meal plan. Characteristics with differences in significant associations between the low and very low food security groups were gender, international student status, having a car, weight status and participation in an on-campus meal plan. Even where similarities in the direction of association were seen, there were often differences in magnitude.Conclusions:We found differences in characteristics associated with food security status when using the four-level v. two-level food security status variable. Future studies should look separately at the four levels, or at least consider separating the marginal and high food-secure groups.

scholarly journals Characteristics associated with changes in food security status among college students during the COVID-19 pandemic

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica Soldavini ◽  
Hazael Andrew ◽  
Maureen Berner
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
Food Security ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Individual Characteristics ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Food Security Status ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Security Module ◽  
Adult Food

Abstract The prevalence of food insecurity in the USA has increased since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic; however, past studies have not examined how the food security status of college students has been impacted. The purpose of this study was to examine changes in the prevalence of food insecurity; determine the proportion of students experiencing a change in food security status; and identify characteristics associated with changes in food security status from before to during the COVID-19 pandemic among a sample of college students. We administered a cross-sectional online survey to students from a large public university in the Southeastern USA. The 10-item U.S. Adult Food Security Module was used to assess food security status during the spring 2020 semester both before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, and students self-reported a variety of individual characteristics. The overall prevalence of food insecurity increased by approximately one-third during the spring 2020 semester from before to during the COVID-19 pandemic. When examining the types of changes in food security status experienced by students, 12% improved, 68% stayed the same, and 20% worsened. A variety of characteristics were associated with an improvement or worsening of food security status category from before to during the pandemic. Similar to what is seen in other reports, we found that the overall proportion of college students in our sample experiencing food insecurity increased during the COVID-19 pandemic; however, some students showed improvements in food security status. Approaches for addressing food insecurity during and beyond the pandemic are needed.

scholarly journals Does Students’ Home Zip Code Relate to Food Insecurity on Campus? Implications of Home Demographics on Food Insecurity in College

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 178-178
Author(s):  
Abigail Sarna ◽  
Jesse Stabile Morrell
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
Food Security ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Census Data ◽  
Final Analysis ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Food Security Status ◽  
Security Index ◽  
Zip Code

Abstract Objectives To explore the relationship between students’ home zip code demographics and their food security status at a midsized, northeastern university. Methods Data were collected between 2018–2020 from the College Health and Nutrition Assessment Survey, an ongoing, cross sectional study at a midsized, public, northeastern university. As part of an online survey (Qualtrics) offered during the 3rd or 4th week of the semester, students completed the 6-item USDA Food Insecurity Questionnaire and provided the zip code associated with their primary residence prior to attending college. Students’ self-reported answers were used to categorize current food security status: food secure, low food secure, or very low food secure. A food security index was created from 13 unique sets of US Census data associated with zip codes. Each zip code was scored by sextiles for each census demographic and summed; final index values were assigned to each reported zip code and ranged from high to low risk of food insecurity (13–78). Results After exclusion of missing data, 687 students were included in the final analysis. The sample of predominantly female (62.0%), white (93.1%), first year (47.7%), and reported a zip code from the home state of the institution (39.9%). The mean food security index (±SD) of reported zip codes was 45.3 ± 8.9. In all, 18.8% reported food insecurity, (5.5% very low food security and 13.2% low food security), and 81.2% reported food security or marginal food security. Food insecurity was highest (21.8%) in students from zip codes most at risk for food insecurity based on the index, however, not significantly different from students from zip codes with the most food secure index score (18.8%). Conclusions Food insecurity among college students has been previously linked to poorer health, grades, and academic retention. More work is needed to elucidate the role of students’ prior place of residence to identify those at greatest risk of experiencing food insecurity on campus. Funding Sources The New Hampshire Agricultural Experiment Station and USDA National Institute of Food and Agricultural Hatch Project 1010738.

Food insecurity among college students in West Texas

2019 ◽  
Vol 121 (3) ◽  
pp. 738-754 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brenda Abu ◽  
Wilna Oldewage-Theron
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
Food Security ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Dietary Diversity ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Food Security Status ◽  
Meal Planning ◽  
Texas Tech University

Purpose Food insecurity is an evolving nutrition issue affecting both developed and underdeveloped college campuses. The purpose of this paper is to assess food insecurity and related coping strategies among Texas Tech University students. Design/methodology/approach This was a cross-sectional online survey in Lubbock, Texas, among college students (n=173). The outcome measures, socio-demographic factors, household food insecurity access) and dietary diversity were assessed using validated tools. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS software. Socio-demographic differences in food security status were examined using χ2, and means testing. Risks of student food insecurity were assessed using odds ratios (ORs). Findings Respondents were mostly female (70 percent), non-Hispanic white (58 percent) and young adults’ (median age: 22.0 (20.0, 27.0)), with a median monthly income of $1,000 (0.0, 1,500) and spent about a fifth of their income on food. More students were food insecure (59.5 percent) compared to those who experienced food security (40.5 percent) (p<0.001). Some of the severe food insecure students (16.7 percent) reported going to bed without food (6.9 percent) in the prior 30 days. Students with monthly food budgets of ⩽ $200 were 3.2 times more likely to be food insecure (OR=3.231: CI: 1.353–7.714; p=0.010) compared to those with higher food budgets. A students’ choice of priority monthly expenses was significantly associated with food security status; however, further risk assessment of dichotomous “prioritized food” and “prioritized other expenses” was not statistically significant. Originality/value Student’s food budget of $200 was the strongest determinant of food insecurity. Individual training on money management and meal planning are recommended. University policies should recognize and develop academic support policies addressing competing expenses with food.

“Spending all this time stressing and worrying and calculating”: Marginal Food Security and Student Life at a Diverse Urban University

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-19
Author(s):  
Ryan J Gamba ◽  
Michael T Schmeltz ◽  
Nancy Ortiz ◽  
Alina Engelman ◽  
Juleen Lam ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
Food Security ◽  
Quantitative Research ◽  
Academic Motivation ◽  
Physical Symptoms ◽  
Healthy Food ◽  
High Food ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Future Health ◽  
Food Security Status

Abstract Objective: Food security status is a continuum ranging from high to very low food security. While marginal food security falls next to high food security on the spectrum, new quantitative research indicates marginal food security status is associated with negative health outcomes and poor academic performance among college students. Qualitative research focusing on college students experiencing marginal food security has not been conducted. This study aims to qualitatively explore experiences of college students with marginal food security and to identify themes to better understand and provide context regarding how marginal food security impacts students. Design: Students were recruited for semi-structured interviews with questions designed to study the challenges associated with students’ food situations. All interviews were recorded and transcribed with themes identified via an inductive approach. Setting: A large public university on the US west coast. Participants: Thirty college students. Results: Key themes that emerged: purchasing cheap unhealthy foods; insufficient time to prepare and eat meals on a regular basis; stress and anxiety around the inability to eat healthy food and future health issues; self-perception of health when eating poorly along with physical symptoms; and low academic motivation by not fully participating in their courses due to few healthy food options or missing meals. Conclusion: Marginal food security can potentially diminish students’ health and their capacity to learn and succeed in their coursework. The results emphasize that students experiencing marginal food security should not be grouped with students experiencing high food security.

scholarly journals Sex Differences in the Association Between Food Insecurity and Obesity Among College Students

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 181-181
Author(s):  
Aseel El Zein ◽  
Karla Shelnutt ◽  
Sarah Colby ◽  
Geoffrey Greene ◽  
Wenjun Zhou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
Logistic Regression ◽  
Food Security ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
High Food ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Logistic Regression Models ◽  
Food And Agriculture ◽  
Increased Risk

Abstract Objectives This study aimed to assess the association between food insecurity and obesity and to examine whether it varies by sex. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in spring 2017 among college students from eight U.S. institutions. Participants (n = 683) completed the USDA Adult Food Security Survey and had their weight and height measured by researchers. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to estimate the sex-specific associations between food insecurity and obesity (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2), after adjusting for socioeconomic covariates. Results Overall, 25.4% of students identified as food insecure and 10.5% were obese. The prevalence of obesity increased as the level of food insecurity increased, from 5.2% for those with high food security, 13.4% for those with marginal food security, to 17.4% and 21.6% for students with low and very low food security. In logistic regression analysis, marginal, low and very low food security students had an odds ratio of 2.83 (95% CI: 1.43, 5.57), 3.86 (95% CI: 1.88, 7.91), and 5.05 (95% CI:, 2.44, 10.48) of obesity compared to students with high food security, exhibiting a dose-response relationship. Among females, having marginal (OR = 4.21, 95% CI: 1.70, 9.75), low (OR = 4.51, 95% CI: 1.40, 12.47), or very low food security (OR = 7.08, 95% CI: 2.60, 18.41) predicted higher odds of obesity compared to female students with high food security. Among males, those with low food security had higher odds of obesity (OR = 6.40, 95% CI: 1.78, 20.7). Conclusions The association between food insecurity and obesity in U.S. college students remained after adjustment for multiple socio-economic factors. Overall, food insecure females experienced an increase in the risk of obesity as food insecurity increased; however, only males with low food security had an increased risk of obesity. Programs directed toward obesity prevention need to address any level of food insecurity as a risk factor in females, and target males with low food security. Although beyond the scope of this study, it is possible that programs to reduce food insecurity may help prevent obesity in college students. Funding Sources This material is based upon work that is supported by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, under award number 2014–67,001-21,851.

scholarly journals Snack Consumption and Food Security Among College Students in the US During COVID-19 Pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 176-176
Author(s):  
Lukkamol Prapkree ◽  
Rianna Uddin ◽  
Jafar Ali Ajaj Jaafar ◽  
Niliarys Sifre ◽  
Gabriel Corea ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
Food Security ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Household Income ◽  
Demographic Data ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Food Security Status ◽  
Snack Consumption ◽  
Unhealthy Snacks

Abstract Objectives During COVID-19 pandemic, most students have been confined to their home. This situation may affect snack consumption and food security. Our objective was to determine the associations among snack intake, snack accessibility and availability, household income, and food security status in US overweight college students aged 18–24 years. Methods A cross-sectional survey was assessed through online self-reported questionnaires via Qualtrics from June 2020 to January 2021. Descriptive statistics were used to examine the frequency, percentages, and average of socio-demographic data, including household income and food security status and snack intake data. The associations among these variables were determined by logistic regression. Results A total of 157 students completed the survey but only 145 completed all questions in the survey. Most students were female (84.8%), Hispanics (37.2%), with a mean age of 21.5 ± 2.0 years. The majority reported a household income of &lt;$50,000 (60.0%) and having a high food security status (66.2%). Average snack consumption was 2.3 ± 1.1 times per day with the highest common reported frequency of snacking 2–3 times per day (61.0%). Most reported that they knew how to choose a healthy snack (85.5%) but most (73.1%) reported that unhealthy snacks (i.e., chips, crackers, cookies, candy, chocolate, etc.) were more accessible and available to them than healthy snacks (i.e., fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, whole grain, low sugary bars/cookies/crackers, etc.). After adjusting for age and gender, those with the highest food security had significantly lower odds of choosing unhealthy snacks (OR 0.05; 95% CI 0.01, 0.36) as compared to those with the lowest food security. Also, those with lower income (&lt;$50,000) had significantly higher odds of choosing unhealthy snacks as compared to higher income (OR 3.35; 95% CI 1.51, 7.41). However, food security and income had no association with knowledge of identifying healthy or unhealthy snacks. Conclusions In this sample of college students, income and food security status was not related to their ability to know how to choose healthy snacks but low food security and low income were significantly related to the accessibility and availability of unhealthy snacks. Funding Sources Internal funds from Florida International University.

scholarly journals Food Security Status Among College Students Is Associated with Self-Rated Health, Weight Status, and Dietary Behaviors (P04-083-19)

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica Soldavini ◽  
Maureen Berner
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Coping Strategies ◽  
Weight Status ◽  
Multinomial Logistic Regression ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
High Food ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Self Rated Health ◽  
Chapel Hill ◽  
Food Security Status

Abstract Objectives The objective of this study was to examine the association between food security status and health and diet-related outcomes in UNC Chapel Hill students. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional analysis using data from 4984 students who completed an online questionnaire that was sent to all UNC Chapel Hill students with a publicly available email address in October and November of 2016. The questionnaire assessed food security status over the past 12 months using the 10-item US Adult Food Security Survey Module and included questions related to self-rated health, weight status, and coping strategies related to obtaining food that could impact diet quality. We used multinomial logistic regression to assess the association between food security status and health and diet-related outcomes. Statistical significance was considered P < .05. Results Among students in our sample, 56% experienced high, 22% marginal, 19% low, and 3% very low food security. Compared with students experiencing high food security, students experiencing marginal, low, and very low food security had a significantly greater odds of reporting lower self-rated health. Students experiencing marginal and low food security had a greater odds of experiencing overweight or obesity compared with students experiencing high food security, however, there were no significant associations between very low food security and weight status. Experiencing marginal, low, or very low food security was also significantly associated with sometimes or often eating more food than normal when food was plentiful; eating less healthy meals to be able to eat more; and purchasing cheap, processed food. Conclusions Only slightly more than half of students in our sample reported experiencing high food security. This is especially concerning as we found a lower food security status to be associated with worse outcomes related to self-rated health and weight status, as well as an increased likelihood of using coping strategies to obtain food that contribute to poor dietary intake. Funding Sources This study was supported by a University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Food for All micro-grant.

scholarly journals Food Insecurity Associated with Screening Positive for a Possible Eating Disorder Among Students Attending a Large, Public University in the Midwest (P04-035-19)

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mikayla Barry ◽  
Kendrin Sonneville ◽  
Cindy Leung
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
Eating Disorder ◽  
Food Security ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Family Income ◽  
Positive Screen ◽  
Funding Sources ◽  
Food Security Status ◽  
The University

Abstract Objectives Food insecurity is a critical concern for college students. Food insecurity is associated with stress, irregular eating patterns, weight change, and depression, making it a plausible risk factor for disordered eating in college students, who are already at high risk of eating disorders. We explored the relation between food insecurity and screening positive for a possible eating disorder among students attending a large, public Midwestern university. Methods Data were collected cross-sectionally via an online survey during the Winter 2018 semester. The analytic sample totaled 762 after excluding students with missing data for exposure or outcome. The 10-item U.S. Adult Food Security Survey Module was used to measure food security status, which was classified into four categories: food security, marginal food security, low food security, and very low food security. Participants were screened for the presence of a possible eating disorder using the 5-item SCOFF questionnaire, with a positive screen defined as ≥2 affirmative answers. We used Poisson regression to model the prevalence of SCOFF positive screens and item-level affirmative responses by food security categories, adjusting for age, sex, race/ethnicity, family income, and first-generation status. Results A higher prevalence of positive SCOFF screens was observed among students with marginal food security (PR 1.76, 95% CI 1.67, 1.86), low food security (PR 1.62, 95% CI 1.53, 1.72), and very low food security (PR 2.79, 95% CI 2.65, 2.94), after adjusting for demographic characteristics. Food insecurity was also positively related to prevalence of affirmative responses for four SCOFF items. Conclusions This study shows that college students with food insecurity are more likely to screen positive for a possible eating disorder compared to food secure students. More research is needed to understand the complicated relationship between these two food-related constructs among college students. Funding Sources This study was supported by a grant from Poverty Solutions at the University of Michigan. One co-author was supported by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.

scholarly journals Food Insecure College Students and Objective Measurements of Their Unused Meal Plans

Nutrients ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 904 ◽  
Author(s):  
Irene van Woerden ◽  
Daniel Hruschka ◽  
Sonia Vega-Lόpez ◽  
David R. Schaefer ◽  
Marc Adams ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
Food Security ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Generalized Estimating Equations ◽  
First Year ◽  
First Year College ◽  
Food Security Status ◽  
Meal Plan ◽  
First Year College Students ◽  
The University

Some researchers have proposed the prevalence of food insecurity among college students is high due to students’ meal plans providing insufficient meals. The association between college students’ food security status and their meal plans have not yet been examined. In this study, United States (US) first year college students (N = 534) self-reported their food security status in the Fall 2015 and/or Spring 2016 semester(s). Objective measures of students’ meal plans were obtained from the university. Logistic generalized estimating equations (GEEs) were used to determine if students’ meal plan, and meal plan use, predicted food insecurity. Linear GEEs were used to examine several potential reasons for lower meal plan use. We found that students did not use all of their available meals. Compared to students on the most expensive (unlimited) meal plan, students on the cheapest (8 meals/week) meal plan were the most likely to report food insecurity (OR = 2.2, 95% CI = 1.2, 4.1). However, in the Fall semester, 26% of students on unlimited meal plans also reported food insecurity. For students on the 180 meals/semester meal plan, food insecurity was associated with using fewer meals (OR = 0.9, 95% CI = 0.8, 1.0). Students who worked tended to use their meal plan less (β = −1.3, 95% CI = −2.3, −0.3). Students are reporting food insecurity while having meals left in their meal plan.

scholarly journals Food Insecurity Is Associated with Increased Risk of Obesity in US College Students

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (8) ◽  
Author(s):  
Aseel El Zein ◽  
Sarah E Colby ◽  
Wenjun Zhou ◽  
Karla P Shelnutt ◽  
Geoffrey W Greene ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
Food Security ◽  
Dietary Intake ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Weight Status ◽  
Fruits And Vegetables ◽  
The United States ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Added Sugars ◽  
Increased Risk

ABSTRACT Background Food insecurity affects millions of Americans and college students are especially vulnerable. Little is known about the relation of food insecurity with weight status and dietary intake during this critical phase of emerging adulthood. Objectives We aimed to examine the sex-specific associations of food insecurity with obesity and dietary intake among college students. The study also explored these associations by meal plan (MP) enrollment. Methods This cross-sectional study included 683 second-year students at 8 universities in the United States. Food security status and dietary intake were assessed using the USDA Adult Food Security Survey and the Dietary Screener Questionnaire, respectively. On-site anthropometrics were measured by researchers. Results The prevalence of food insecurity at the universities ranged from 19.0% to 34.1% with a mean of 25.4% for the entire sample. Compared with high food security, marginal food security and food insecurity were associated with 3.16 (95% CI: 1.55, 6.46) and 5.13 (95% CI: 2.63, 10.00) times increased odds of obesity, respectively, exhibiting a dose–response relation. Food insecurity remained a significant predictor of obesity among both sexes after adjusting for sociodemographic variables. Food-insecure (FI) students had a significantly lower intake of fruits and vegetables and higher intake of added sugars than food-secure (FS) students. Obesity rate and added sugars consumption were higher among FI students with MPs than among FI students lacking MPs and FS students regardless of MP status. Among students with MPs, FS students had a higher intake of fruits and vegetables than FI students. Conclusions Food insecurity was associated with obesity and poor dietary intake among both sexes. Although MP subsidies may be a reasoned approach to combat food insecurity, it should be coupled with efforts to assist students in making healthy food choices. Registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT02941497.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document