TY - JOUR
T1 - Food Insecurity is Related to Disordered Eating Behaviors Among College Students
AU - Royer, Michael F.
AU - Ojinnaka, Chinedum O.
AU - Bruening, Meg
N1 - Funding Information:
This study was supported by an internal grant from the College of Health Solutions at Arizona State University , PG13046.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior
PY - 2021/11
Y1 - 2021/11
N2 - Objective: To determine the association between food insecurity and disordered eating behaviors (DEBs) in undergraduate college students. Methods: Cross-sectional data of college students (n = 533) were collected from February to April 2020. Food security was measured with the US Department of Agriculture's Adult Food Security Survey Module. Disordered eating behaviors were measured with the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire. Associations were examined statistically with Pearson chi-square tests of independence and general linear regression models. Results: Across all food security ranges, linear trends detailed significant associations between food insecurity and global DEBs (β = 0.17; P < 0.001), eating concern (β = 0.27; P < 0.001), shape concern (β = 0.17; P = 0.001), and weight concern (β = 0.21; P < 0.001), but not restraint (β = 0.10; P = 0.08). Conclusions and Implications: Food insecurity was consistently related to DEBs. Future research may consider longitudinally examining this relationship, as food insecurity and DEBs may be associated with worse health outcomes among vulnerable college students.
AB - Objective: To determine the association between food insecurity and disordered eating behaviors (DEBs) in undergraduate college students. Methods: Cross-sectional data of college students (n = 533) were collected from February to April 2020. Food security was measured with the US Department of Agriculture's Adult Food Security Survey Module. Disordered eating behaviors were measured with the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire. Associations were examined statistically with Pearson chi-square tests of independence and general linear regression models. Results: Across all food security ranges, linear trends detailed significant associations between food insecurity and global DEBs (β = 0.17; P < 0.001), eating concern (β = 0.27; P < 0.001), shape concern (β = 0.17; P = 0.001), and weight concern (β = 0.21; P < 0.001), but not restraint (β = 0.10; P = 0.08). Conclusions and Implications: Food insecurity was consistently related to DEBs. Future research may consider longitudinally examining this relationship, as food insecurity and DEBs may be associated with worse health outcomes among vulnerable college students.
KW - college
KW - disordered eating behaviors
KW - food insecurity
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U2 - 10.1016/j.jneb.2021.08.005
DO - 10.1016/j.jneb.2021.08.005
M3 - Article
C2 - 34561153
AN - SCOPUS:85115407592
SN - 1499-4046
VL - 53
SP - 951
EP - 956
JO - Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior
JF - Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior
IS - 11
ER -