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Students with Food Insecurity Are More Likely to Screen Positive for an Eating Disorder at a Large, Public University in the Midwest
- Source :
- J Acad Nutr Diet
- Publication Year :
- 2021
- Publisher :
- Elsevier BV, 2021.
-
Abstract
- Background College students experience a disproportionately high prevalence of both food insecurity and eating disorders. Food insecurity is associated with stress, irregular eating patterns, weight change, depression, and body dissatisfaction, making it a possible risk factor for the onset of eating disorders. However, the association between food insecurity and eating disorders among college students is not well understood. Objective This study explored the relation between food insecurity and screening positive for an eating disorder among students attending a large, public Midwestern university. Design Cross-sectional data were collected using an online survey administered from March through June 2018. Participants/setting Participants were recruited from a random sample of 2,000 students, with oversampling from the following groups: racial/ethnic minorities, first-generation students, and students from lower-income households. Of those sampled, 851 students (43%) responded. The final analytic sample comprised 804 students after excluding those with missing data. Main outcome measure The validated 5-item Sick, Control, One stone, Fat, Food (SCOFF) questionnaire was used to screen for the presence of an eating disorder. Statistical analyses performed Poisson regression was used to model prevalence ratios for positive SCOFF screens (≥2 affirmative responses) by levels of food security (ie, high, marginal, low, or very low). Models were adjusted for sex, age, race/ethnicity, degree type, financial aid, and first-generation student status. Results Compared to students with high food security, a higher prevalence of positive SCOFF screens was found among students with marginal food security (prevalence ratio [PR], 1.83, 95% CI 1.26 to 2.65; P = 0.001), low food security (PR 1.72, 95% CI 1.16 to 2.54; P = 0.007), and very low food security (PR 2.83, 95% CI 2.01 to 3.97; P Conclusions Students with food insecurity at any level were more likely to screen positive for an eating disorder via the SCOFF questionnaire. Prospective studies are needed to determine whether food insecurity is a risk factor for the onset of eating disorders among college students.
- Subjects :
- Male
0301 basic medicine
Universities
education
Ethnic group
030209 endocrinology & metabolism
Article
Feeding and Eating Disorders
Young Adult
03 medical and health sciences
symbols.namesake
0302 clinical medicine
Surveys and Questionnaires
medicine
Humans
Poisson regression
Disordered eating
Risk factor
Students
030109 nutrition & dietetics
Nutrition and Dietetics
Food security
digestive, oral, and skin physiology
Weight change
General Medicine
SCOFF questionnaire
medicine.disease
United States
Food Insecurity
Eating disorders
Cross-Sectional Studies
Socioeconomic Factors
Food Security
symbols
Female
Psychology
Food Science
Demography
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 22122672
- Volume :
- 121
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....2b8080922262c2845ab4eb4897c24120