Colleges may contribute to reducing food insecurity among their students through food support programs that provide free or low-cost healthy food options. Campus-based food support programs can provide students in need with food and beverages that align with the
Dietary Guidelines and could offer an avenue for nutrition education to
improve the diet quality and health risk behaviors of a vulnerable population. 

Cleveland State University

Undergraduate students may engage in behaviors or face consequences that endanger their health and/or academic future as a result of food insecurity, including:

-  Little to no fruit and vegetable intake
-  Increased consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages
- Increased consumption of alcohol
- Binge drinking episodes
- Reduced sleep
-  Poor self-rated health
- Poor academic performance/reduced grade point average

Risk Behaviors As A Result of Food Insecurity Among Undergraduate Students

Ryan, R. A., Murphy, B., Deierlein, A. L., Lal, S., Parekh, N., &amp; Bihuniak, J. D. (2022). Food insecurity, associated health behaviors, and academic performance among Urban University Undergraduate Students. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, 54(3), 269–275. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jneb.2021.08.008 

Food Insecurity, Associated Health Behaviors, and
Academic Performance Among Urban University
Undergraduate Students

Overconsumption of sugar-sweetened beverages, which includes regular soft drinks, sweetened juice drinks, sweet tea, coffee/with cream and/or sugar, and energy drinks, are associated with obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. There is a correlation of increased consumption of such drinks and food insecurity, possibly attributed to the low cost of drinks or the addition of caffeine, putting undergraduates at higher risk of these negative health outcomes.

Risk of Consumption of Sugar-Sweetened Beverages in Undergraduate Students

There is a link between food insecurity among undergraduate students and self-reported poor sleep. Poor sleep can contribute to a number of negative health outcomes. Exhaustion may also have a negative effect on academic performance.

Relationship Between Poor Sleep and Food Insecurity in Undergraduate Students

Undergraduates who report being food insecure are more likely to rate themselves as having "fair" or "poor" health. This is in opposition to undergraduates who are not food insecure, who are more likely to report having  "good" "very good" or "excellent" health.

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