Prevalence of Food Insecurity in Collegiate Athletes Warrants Unique Solutions

Abstract

Abstract Objectives Food insecurity is a public health concern in the US. Collegiate student-athletes may be at increased risk due to the nutritional and physical demands of performance and, limited time for employment and food preparation/intake. The objective of this study was to determine the rate of food insecurity and its characteristics among The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) student-athletes. Methods A cross-sectional analysis of student-athletes attending a public university in rural East Texas in 2018 was conducted. A 26-item questionnaire including sociodemographic characteristics and the six-item U.S. Household Food Security Survey Module (US-HFSSM), adapted to reflect the prior six months while training, was administered electronically to NCAA student-athletes. Each affirmative response to the US-HFSSM was given a score of “1” and summed to create a raw score ranging from 0–6. Participants with a score of 0–1 were considered food secure; those with a score of 2–4 (low food secure) or 5–6 (very low food secure) were considered food insecure. Results Ninety-one student-athletes (27% response rate) representing 13 sports completed the questionnaire. Participants were 19.81 ± 1.3 years old, mostly female (85.7%), Caucasian (67%), and of normal weight (BMI of 18.5–24.9 kg/m2; 74.7%). Nearly half (39.6%) reported food insecurity despite receiving wide-ranging assistance via scholarship support (86.1%) and/or the possession of a meal plan (42.9%). Food insecure participants reported limited money (25%) and time (19.4%) as barriers to food intake. Independent-samples t tests were conducted to compare grade point average (GPA) and BMI of food secure and food insecure groups. GPA was lower in the food insecure (M = 3.26, SD = .52) than the food secure group (M = 3.58, SD = .41); (t(63) = 3.06, P = .003) while BMI was higher in the food insecure (M = 24.05, SD = 3.56) than the food secure group (M = 22.85, SD = 2.17); (t(52) = –1.807, P = .077). Conclusions Despite the provision of scholarships and meal plans, the prevalence of food insecurity reported among NCAA student-athletes was similar to previous reports among the general collegiate population. Unique solutions that address the increased nutrient demands and time constraints associated with sport participation are warranted. Funding Sources N/A.