The Association Between Food Insecurity and Dietary Outcomes in University Students: A Systematic Review

Yumeng Shi; Alyse Davies; Margaret Allman-Farinelli

doi:10.1016/j.jand.2021.07.015

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The Association Between Food Insecurity and Dietary Outcomes in University Students: A Systematic Review

Journal article

Peer reviewed

The Association Between Food Insecurity and Dietary Outcomes in University Students: A Systematic Review

Yumeng Shi, Alyse Davies and Margaret Allman-Farinelli

Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Journal, Vol.121(12), pp.2475-2500.e1

2021

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jand.2021.07.015

PMID: 34352437

Abstract

food security

college

University

food assistance

diet quality

Background University students may experience a high prevalence of food insecurity. The impacts of food insecurity on dietary intake and meal patterns of students have not been fully researched. Objective This systematic review aimed to examine the association between food insecurity and dietary outcomes among university students. Methods Nine electronic databases and gray literature were searched from their inception to July 2020. Studies that reported dietary outcomes in both food-secure and -insecure students or the association between food insecurity and dietary outcomes among current students in tertiary education settings in any country were included. All study designs were eligible for inclusion, except qualitative studies. Two reviewers completed the screening, data extraction, and quality assessment independently. Study quality was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute appraisal tools. Results Sixteen studies were included in the final qualitative synthesis of this review. Most studies were cross-sectional designs and of fair quality. The prevalence of food insecurity among university students ranged from 21% to 82% across studies. Lower intakes of healthy foods (eg, fruits, vegetables, and whole grains) and higher intakes of unhealthy foods (eg, fast foods, added sugars, and sugar-sweetened beverages) were observed in food-insecure students, and studies with the most representative samples of the student body found these trends. Some food-insecure students consumed breakfast and evening meals less frequently than food-secure students but the evidence was limited. Validated food security and dietary assessment tools were inconsistently used to assess diet quality among students with differing food security status. The heterogeneity of student sampling and data collection may contribute to inconsistent findings. Conclusion Poorer dietary outcomes were found in university students with food insecurity compared with food-secure students, but statistical significance was only observed in a small number of studies. Future longitudinal studies using food security and dietary assessment tools validated in this population are recommended to confirm the observed associations between food insecurity and diet quality among university students.

Details

Title: The Association Between Food Insecurity and Dietary Outcomes in University Students: A Systematic Review
Authors: Yumeng Shi (Corresponding Author) - University of Sydney
Alyse Davies - University of Sydney
Margaret Allman-Farinelli - University of Sydney
Publication details: Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Journal, Vol.121(12), pp.2475-2500.e1
Publisher: Elsevier Inc.
Date published: 2021
DOI: 10.1016/j.jand.2021.07.015
ISSN: 2212-2680
PMID: 34352437
Organisation Unit: School of Health - Nutrition & Dietetics
Language: English
Record Identifier: 991104337102621
Output Type: Journal article