https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38093487
A recent study published in the journal Nutrition & Dietetics has found that a significant number of university students in Australia experience food insecurity, which is associated with poor diet quality. The study, conducted by researchers from the University of Wollongong and the University of Newcastle, found that more than half of the students (54%) who participated in the study experienced some form of food insecurity.
The researchers used the Household Food Security Survey Module to assess food insecurity among students and measured their diet quality with the Australian Recommended Food Score. They found that male students and students who do not live with their parents were at a higher risk of food insecurity.
Students who were food-insecure were more likely to use the campus food pantry, but they were less likely to use the campus community garden. The study also found that food-insecure students had significantly lower diet quality scores compared to food-secure students, with over three points difference. The difference in diet quality was particularly notable in the fruit and vegetable subscale scores.
The study highlights the urgent need for universities to implement interventions to improve the dietary intake of students who experience food insecurity. The study’s authors suggest that universities should offer programs that increase access to affordable and nutritious food on campus. They also recommend that campus-led initiatives address the barriers to using community gardens, as this could be a potential way to improve the diets of food-insecure students.
In summary, the study adds to a growing body of evidence that food insecurity is a significant issue among university students, and it underscores the need for universities to take action to address this problem. Poorest dietary quality in university students is linked with food insecurity, and hence highlights the urgent need for university-led interventions to improve students’ dietary intake.
