What is it about?
Food insecurity is difficulty getting enough of the right types of food. The problem is evident in about 15% of US households but the issue is not well studied in American college students, who may be at increased risk due to the high cost of tuition, housing, and other expenses related to their education. This study gathered all the evidence to date, representing more than 50,000 students and 100 higher education institutions. Food insecurity was evident in about 43% of American college students on average, indicating that the problem is almost three times worse compared to regular households, clearly representing a major hurdle to academic success. Solutions include stemming rising costs associated with college, updating financial aid algorithms to represent the real economy, strengthening existing programs such as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, and innovative efforts related to bringing free/reduced cost meals to college students.
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Why is it important?
Public and private financial and social investment in American college students is high, and the end goal is to graduate qualified young people who will contribute to strengthening the country professionally, economically, and socially. Higher education is considered one of the most important ways to increase social capital and economic mobility. As such, academic success and graduation is the primary goal of all college students. Lack of proper food is a basic human requirement and it goes without saying that college students who do not have adequate food cannot perform to their potential, leading to decreased academic performance and risk of dropping out.
Perspectives
This review study represents the work of many talented researchers from public health, nutrition, education, and sociology who contributed to the manuscript and others whose work was included in the results. Collectively, our goal is to help college students succeed, and we know that this effort must include more than just STEM preparation, tutoring, and social inclusivity programs. Indeed, basic needs such as food and housing have long been overlooked as key mediators of college student success, whereas we know that lack of proper food and housing make it very difficult for students to concentrate on their studies. The recent attention paid to this issue is heartening, and we hope that the momentum continues towards a future where college students do not lack the basic needs they need to achieve success.
Aydin Nazmi
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: A systematic review of food insecurity among US students in higher education, Journal of Hunger & Environmental Nutrition, June 2018, Taylor & Francis,
DOI: 10.1080/19320248.2018.1484316.
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