Food Insecurity Among College Students in the US by Julie Satorius

julsatorius — 2025-04-07 05:19:24 UTC

Adamovic, E., Newton, P., & House, V. (2020). Food insecurity on a college campus: Prevalence, determinants, and solutions. Journal of American College Health, 70(1), 58–64. https://doi.org/10.1080/07448481.2020.1725019

Barrett, E. M., Hart, A. C., Bhat, S., Marklund, M., Coyle, D. H., Heenan, M., Pettigrew, S., & Wu, J. HY. (2023). The Effect of Retail Food Environment Interventions on Dietary Behavior in Postsecondary Education Settings: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. The Journal of Nutrition, 153(10), 3122–3130.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tjnut.2023.08.034

Bruening, M., Argo, K., Payne-Sturges, D., & Laska, M. N. (2017). The Struggle Is Real: A Systematic Review of Food Insecurity on Postsecondary Education Campuses. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 117(11), 1767–1791. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jand.2017.05.022

El Zein, A., Shelnutt, K. P., Colby, S., Vilaro, M. J., Zhou, W., Greene, G., Olfert, M. D., Riggsbee, K., Morrell, J. S., & Mathews, A. E. (2019). Prevalence and correlates of food insecurity among U.S. college students: a multi-institutional study. BMC Public Health, 19(1), 660–660. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-019-6943-6

Freudenberg, N., Goldrick-Rab, S., & Poppendieck, J. (2019). College Students and SNAP: The New Face of Food Insecurity in the United States. American Journal of Public Health, 109(12), 1652–1658.

https://doi.org/10.2105/ajph.2019.305332

Li, Y., Lee, E. L., & Bennett, S. (2024). Food insecurity among college students: Administrators’ perspective. Journal of American College Health, 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1080/07448481.2024.2378303

Marmolejo, C., Banta, J. E., Siapco, G., & Baba Djara, M. (2022). Examining the association of student mental health and food security with college GPA. Journal of American College Health, 72(3), 819–825. https://doi.org/10.1080/07448481.2022.2058327

Merhout, F., & Doyle, J. (2019). Socioeconomic Status and Diet Quality in College Students. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, 51(9), 1107–1112. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jneb.2019.06.021

Payne-Sturges, D. C., Tjaden, A., Caldeira, K. M., Vincent, K. B., & Arria, A. M. (2018). Student Hunger on Campus: Food Insecurity Among College Students and Implications for Academic Institutions. American Journal of Health Promotion, 32(2), 349–354. https://doi.org/10.1177/0890117117719620

Royer, M. F., Ojinnaka, C. O., & Bruening, M. (2021). Food Insecurity is Related to Disordered Eating Behaviors Among College Students. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, 53(11), 951–956. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jneb.2021.08.005

julsatorius — 2025-04-07 06:56:54 UTC

While there is still room for improvement in addressing food insecurity on college campuses, some may argue that existing measures are already sufficient and that food prices do not drastically interfere with access to nutritious food. Some people could argue there is already sufficient existing support systems to help reduce food insecurity among college students. “While half of the students (56.4%) with an on-campus pantry were aware of its existence, only 22.2% of food-insecure students endorsed utilizing the pantry for food acquisition” (Adamovic, E., Newton, P., & House, V., 2020). While this may be true in some campus communities, it does not apply to every college, or colleges where students may need the support most. Others could additionally argue that food is a manageable monthly expense that everyone can make room for in their budget. They choose what foods to buy, therefore it is their choice how they spend their money. “Dietary patterns are shaped by systemic factors such as the prevailing food environment, which in recent decades has evolved to be dominated by widespread and heavily marketed nutrient-poor and energy-dense foods” (Barrett, et. al, 2023). While some students , they could utilize their free resources better, and rework their monthly budgets in order to accommodate for better food. When rent is too expensive, too little aid received, too little access to cheaper foods, for some students reality’s, they realistically don’t have access or the ability to get nutritious foods, leading to malnutrition and malnourishment. Addressing systemic issues such as affordability, accessibility, and financial constraints remains essential to ensuring that all students have reliable access to nutritious food. While existing food insecurity initiatives have provided valuable support for many students, the persistence of food insecurity suggests that more can be done.

julsatorius — 2025-04-07 06:58:50 UTC

Food insecurity among college students is an extensive issue with major impacts on student academic performance, physical and mental health, and overall well-being.

In my recent study on this issue, the relationship was clear between underlying factors, direct implications, and secondary results of food insecurity. Food insecurity can often stem from systematic factors, result in lower GPAs, higher dropout rates, worsened physical and mental health, and can be more commonly seen in students working jobs, and facing high expenses. For this project, I want to specifically focus on college students attending universities in the US, who are all subject to a reduction in federal student financial aid, grants, as well as an increase in prices of tuition, food, and necessities nationwide. Changes are needed in order to manage the underlying factors leading to food insecurity, including rising tuition costs, food availability and affordability, as well as limited financial resources. Despite attempts to minimize food insecurity across different universities, the issue is prominent in students on and off campus. Food affordability and accessibility applies to both on-campus food options, and off-campus options such as in grocery stores and local markets.

voice introduction

julsatorius — 2025-04-07 08:31:25 UTC

julsatorius — 2025-04-07 19:32:10 UTC

julsatorius — 2025-04-07 19:32:23 UTC

julsatorius — 2025-04-07 19:32:40 UTC

julsatorius — 2025-04-07 19:33:10 UTC

julsatorius — 2025-04-07 19:33:30 UTC

julsatorius — 2025-04-07 19:36:25 UTC

Food insecurity among college students remains a pressing issue, particularly for low-income, first-generation, and nontraditional students who face unique financial challenges (Li et al., 2024). Addressing this problem requires a multifaceted approach, including economic incentives and improved access to affordable, nutritious food, which have been shown to positively influence dietary behaviors (Barrett et al., 2023). Beyond physical health, food insecurity has profound effects on mental well-being, contributing to higher levels of psychological distress and loneliness among students with limited food access (Merhout & Doyle, 2019). Given the long-term health, social, and economic benefits associated with higher education, public investment in programs that ensure students have consistent access to food is essential (Freudenberg et al., 2019). Strengthening institutional support and prioritizing food security measures will not only enhance student success but also contribute to a more equitable and sustainable academic environment.