Food insecurity is associated with lower diet quality among dental students

Abstract

PurposeFood insecurity is associated with lower diet quality, adverse health outcomes, and academic difficulty among undergraduate students. The objective was to identify the relationship between food security status and diet quality in dental students.MethodsAll dental students attending Howard University (n = 286) or the University of Iowa (n = 326) during the fall 2021 semester were invited to complete a cross‐sectional survey designed to query demographics, food security status (i.e., United States Department of Agriculture's ten item Adult Food Security Module), and diet quality (i.e., short Healthy Eating Index). The survey was administered using the Qualtrics platform.ResultsResponse rates were similar for Howard (32.5%) and Iowa (29.4%). Students with food insecurity (46.0%) were slightly older and more likely to be Black or other, first generation professional/graduate students, and receive financial aid than peers with food security (p < 0.050). Food insecurity was associated with lower intakes of fruits and vegetables (p ≤ 0.005), higher intakes of added sugars (p < 0.001), and lower diet quality (p = 0.003). In linear regression analyses that controlled for other variables, food insecurity (p = 0.012), school site (p = 0.027), and gender (p = 0.039) were predictive of lower diet quality.ConclusionsThe inability to procure adequate and appropriate foods was associated with marginal dietary habits (i.e., less than ideal food choices and eating behaviors) and lower diet quality in dental students. Both marginal dietary habits and lower diet quality increase chronic disease risk and may present a barrier to academic success. Addressing food insecurity among dental students is necessary to ensure equitable opportunities for a healthy workforce in the future.

Food Insecurity Among Graduate Students and Postdoctoral Trainees

“…Students experiencing food insecurity have a higher risk of mental health issues, including stress, anxiety, and depression . They are also more likely to have lower diet quality compared with their food-secure counterparts . Food insecurity has consequences on student academic performance and could hinder their academic achievement and success .…”

“… 18 They are also more likely to have lower diet quality compared with their food-secure counterparts. 19 Food insecurity has consequences on student academic performance and could hinder their academic achievement and success. 4 , 18 , 19 Nevertheless, the existing body of food insecurity research predominantly focuses on the undergraduate student population or a combination of undergraduate and graduate student populations.…”

“… 19 Food insecurity has consequences on student academic performance and could hinder their academic achievement and success. 4 , 18 , 19 Nevertheless, the existing body of food insecurity research predominantly focuses on the undergraduate student population or a combination of undergraduate and graduate student populations. This presents a major limitation in the food insecurity literature given that previous studies have shown varying characteristics associated with food insecurity for the distinct undergraduate and graduate student populations.…”

Methods for Assessing Health Outcomes Associated with Food Insecurity in the United States College Student Population: A Narrative Review

“…No Δ BMI 2. ↓ General health Marshall et al., 2023 [ 52 ] 189 Howard University and University of Iowa Female: 68.8% Non-White: 55.7% FI: 46% 10-item 1. Diet quality 1. sHEI 1.…”

“…College students who experience FI are more likely to report decreased intake of fruits and vegetables, which may result in inadequate fiber intake and a multitude of vitamins and minerals [ 22 , 29 , 39 , [48] , [49] , [50] , [51] , [52] , [53] , [54] , [55] ]. In the college student population, research exploring the relationship between FI and dietary intake has only consisted of subjective dietary and beverage assessment methods, such as Food Frequency Questionnaires (FFQs) [ 29 ], National Cancer Institute (NCI) Dietary Screener Questionnaire [ [48] , [49] , [50] , [51] ], Automated Self-Administered 24-h Dietary Assessment Tool [ 56 , 57 ], All Day Fruit and Vegetable Screener [ 34 ], the Food Intention Scale in the FLASHE (Family Life, Activity, Sun, Health, and Eating) survey [ 53 ], Healthy Eating Index scores [ 52 , 57 ], renditions of a self-reported fruit and vegetable intake questionnaire [ 22 , 36 , 54 , 55 , 58 ], and the Beverage Intake Questionnaire-15 [ 34 , 51 ]. A recent study assessing dietary intake and FI in the college student population used the Nutrition Data System for Research, which is currently referenced as the gold-standard for dietary intake data collection in free-living populations [ 59 , 60 ], but dietary changes resulting from differences by FSS were not reported [ 61 ].…”