Influence of COVID-19 Pandemic Restrictions on College Students' Dietary Quality and Experience of the Food Environment

COVID-19 and changes in young adults' weight concerns

The COVID-19 pandemic introduced fundamental challenges to nearly all aspects of college students' lives, yet changes in key domains of their health, including weight concerns, remain untested. The current study utilized a longitudinal project comprised of 355 young-adult college students (Mage=19.5, 66.8% female, 33.2% male) oversampled for recent substance use behavior. Participants completed multiple assessments (mode = 5) from September 2017 to September 2021. Piecewise growth-curve models tested whether COVID-19 onset was associated with changes in the trajectories of young adults' weight concerns. Analyses also examined participants' sex as a moderator of these trajectories. On average, participants reported a significant increase in weight concern levels around the start of COVID-19, although weight concern slopes were not significantly different before and after COVID-19. Additionally, moderation analyses showed that females (but not males) had a significant increase in weight concern levels after COVID-19 onset.

Relationship between COVID-19 pandemic-related experienced stress and lifestyle habits among university students from Québec, Canada

Whether COVID-19-related experienced stress influenced lifestyle habits remains to be thoroughly evaluated among university students. This study examined the relationship between COVID-19-related experienced stress and subsequent lifestyle habits among undergraduate students. This cross-sectional study included 708 undergraduate students from Université Laval (Québec, Canada) participating in the Expériences Pandémiques (ExPan) cohort. Data on COVID-19-related experienced stress and lifestyle were self-reported using a questionnaire completed between February and April of 2022. A stress index (SI) was computed by summing scores associated with 31 situational statements related to the pandemic (e.g., not being able to see friends, dealing with job loss). A healthy lifestyle score (HLS) ranging from zero to seven was calculated based on seven lifestyle habits: moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, sleep quality, fruit and vegetable intake, tobacco and electronic cigarette use, alcohol consumption, cannabis use, and hard or sedative-hypnotic drugs use. In multivariable-adjusted models, a negative association between the SI and the HLS was found (β10% increment SI = -0.23, 95% CI = -0.30, -0.16 HLS point; P < 0.0001). The SI was also negatively associated with sleep quality, and fruit and vegetable consumption, while being positively associated with at-risk alcohol consumption, cannabis use, and hard or sedative-hypnotic drug use. Subgroup analyses suggested a negative relationship between the SI and HLS among participants who did not receive academic accommodations (e.g., additional time for evaluations, personal notetaker), but not those who received such accommodations. This study suggests that COVID-19-related experienced stress was negatively associated with healthy lifestyle habits in this cohort of undergraduate students.

Research trends and gaps concerning food insecurity in college students in the United States: a scoping review

OBJECTIVE

This scoping review explores the broad body of peer-reviewed research measuring food insecurity in post-secondary students in the U.S. to identify trends and gaps to inform future research.

METHODS

Three search engines (PubMed, Web of Science, and CINHAL Full Text) were systematically searched for articles reporting on food security status in U.S. college students.

RESULTS

One-hundred and sixty studies met inclusion criteria. Emerging high-risk student characteristics include gender non-conforming (GNC) and non-binary, financial independence in college, and pregnant and parenting students. Emerging correlates include lack of transportation, anxiety, and eating disorders.

CONCLUSIONS

Prevalence data can be used by colleges to advocate for services and programs. Additional multi-institutional cohort, longitudinal and qualitative studies are needed to identify timely interventions and effective solutions. A new "rights-based" approach to food security solutions that includes nutrition and food literacy for all students is needed.

Qualitative assessment of changes to university students' dietary intake by food security status in the context of COVID-19

OBJECTIVE

To explore how university students' dietary intakes changed during COVID-19, and whether these changes differed by food security status.

PARTICIPANTS

Six hundred students attending a New Jersey public university.

METHODS

A cross-sectional online survey asked about student intake. Food security status was measured using the 18-item US Household Food Security Survey. Open-ended questions were content analyzed and themes were compared between food secure (FS) and food insecure (FI) students.

RESULTS

The most frequently reported dietary changes for FI students were food source/sourcing (22.7%), food variety (19.7%), and food/meal properties (19.7%). For FS students, themes differed: no change (31.5%), food source/sourcing (31.3%), and health/nutrition (13.7%).

CONCLUSIONS

Students indicated dietary changes during the pandemic regardless of food security status, although FI students more frequently reported smaller, less healthy, and less varied meals. Colleges and universities can provide support through enhanced outreach and assistance during emergencies or extended periods of disruption.

University students' perception of their dietary behavior through the course of the COVID-19 pandemic: a phenomenological approach

PURPOSE

The COVID-19 pandemic mandates that were imposed to curb the spread of disease may have triggered unhealthy dietary behaviors among university students. The current study aims at exploring university students' perception of their dietary behaviors through the course of the pandemic.

METHODS

The qualitative study is designed using a phenomenological framework. Using convenience and snowball sampling, nine university students were recruited in southeast Texas. Interviews were conducted using an interview guide after receiving verbal consent. The data were analyzed by thematic analysis.

RESULTS

Three themes were identified. Initially, an increase in consumption of home-cooked meals and frequency of snacking were reported which were associated with emotions including boredom, stress, and homesickness. However, as the students adapted to the pandemic, the frequency of dining and restaurant food consumption increased.

CONCLUSION

The findings highlight the urgency for educational institutions to be well-equipped in terms of nutrition assistance during times of crisis.

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

In the United States, college students experience disproportionate food insecurity (FI) rates compared to the national prevalence. The experience of acute and chronic FI has been associated with negative physical and mental health outcomes in this population. This narrative review aims to summarize the current methodologies for assessing health outcomes associated with the experience of FI in college students in the United States. To date, assessing the health outcomes of FI has predominately consisted of subjective assessments, such as self-reported measures of dietary intake, perceived health status, stress, depression, anxiety, and sleep behaviors. This review, along with the emergence of FI as an international public health concern, establishes the need for novel, innovative, and objective biomarkers to evaluate the short- and long-term impacts of FI on physical and mental health outcomes in college students. The inclusion of objective biomarkers will further elucidate the relationship between FI and a multitude of health outcomes to better inform strategies for reducing the pervasiveness of FI in the United States college student population.

Food Insecurity in Higher Education: A Contemporary Review of Impacts and Explorations of Solutions

Food insecurity is a global phenomenon which impacts a variety of social, economic, and life-stage groups. One such group affected by food insecurity is college students, who tend to experience food insecurity at a prevalence which exceeds the average of their local communities. The impacts of food insecurity in this population are multifaceted and have implications for their college experience and beyond. Food insecurity has been observed to have negative effects on college student academic performance, physical health, and mental health. This review explores the impacts of and solutions for food insecurity in this population globally, with particular emphasis on the United States, and specifically California.

Food insecurity disparities and impact on academic and social experiences among college students at a large public university

Objective: This research seeks to understand food insecurity experiences among students at a large public university in the southern United States. Participants: Participants consented and completed an online survey disseminated on campus in April-May 2021 (N = 418). The participants sampled were predominantly undergraduate (78.2%), females (72.4%), who lived off campus (54.1%), and were racially/ethnically diverse. Methods: Descriptive statistics, multivariable logistic regression, and chi-squared tests were used to examine the differences and association between demographic characteristics and behaviors and food insecurity status. Results: About 32% students surveyed had experienced food insecurity in the last year, which resembles national trends. There were significant differences in students' food insecurity status by race, sexual orientation, first-generation status, residential category, and main mode of transportation. Food insecurity impacted academic and socioeconomic student behaviors. Conclusions: This research has implications for improving the academic, physical, and psychological wellbeing of university students and should inform future programs and policies.

COVID-19 and mental health among college students in the southwestern United States

Objective: We examined COVID-19-related experiences, mental health, and future plans among US undergraduate and graduate students in the initial months of the pandemic. Participants: 72 students (68% female; 51.4% white; age x- =24.4) from 21 colleges in the US southwest concurrently enrolled in a stress-reduction study. Methods: Between March and June 2020, participants completed an online survey about demographics, personal and vicarious COVID-19 experiences, mood, and future plans. Anxiety and depression symptoms were assessed with the GAD-7 and PHQ-9, respectively. Results: Worry about COVID-19 was associated with anxiety and depression symptoms and personal and vicarious experiences with COVID-19. COVID-19 worry varied by illness severity and level of intimacy with those impacted. Most participants reported changing educational (66.7%) and life (55.6%) plans due to COVID-19. Conclusions: Given the continued impact of COVID-19 on physical/emotional health and future plans, universities should assist students in managing COVID-19-related stress so they can continue to learn and grow.

Bad situation, treat yourself: a qualitative exploration of the factors influencing healthy eating habits during the COVID-19 pandemic

Purpose

To explore barriers and facilitators to healthy eating during the COVID-19 pandemic among adults enrolled in an internet-based weight loss program.

Methods

Adults in an internet-delivered weight loss program were recruited to participate. Participants completed online study surveys and a semi-structured interview via telephone between June 1, 2020 and June 22, 2020. The interview included questions to explore how the COVID-19 pandemic has influenced dietary behaviors. Constant comparative analysis was used to identify key themes.

Results

Participants (n = 30) were primarily female (83%) and white (87%), 54.6 ± 10.0 years old, and had a mean body mass index of 31.1 ± 4.5 kg/m². Barriers included snacking/ease of access to food, eating as a coping mechanism, and lack of routine/planning. Facilitators included calorie control, regular routine/scheduling, and self-monitoring. General themes with eating were a change in eating out frequency or modality, cooking more, and changes in alcohol consumption.

Conclusion

Eating habits among adults enrolled in a weight loss program changed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Future weight loss programs and public health recommendations should consider modifying recommendations to place increased emphasis on strategies to overcome barriers to healthy eating and promote facilitators that may help with healthy eating, particularly during unexpected circumstances or events.

Diet Quality and Nutrition Behavior of Federal Nutrition Education Program Participants before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Despite challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic, reports from regional and national meetings of the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education program (EFNEP) have provided anecdotal evidence that the program has persevered, pivoted, and continued to positively impact the lives of some of the nation's most vulnerable populations. However, there have been necessary changes to program delivery, inevitable changes in the lives of participants, and changes in the food environment that may have impacted program outcomes. This study compares national EFNEP data (demographics, behavior change data, and 24 h dietary recall data) of participants from two federal fiscal years, before the COVID-19 pandemic and during the pandemic. Linear mixed model analysis of variance and covariance were used to assess the effects of year on program outcomes. Results of this study provide quantitative evidence of the resiliency of EFNEP to facilitate positive behavior changes related to diet quality, physical activity, food safety, food resource management, and food security. Amidst changes in the food environment during the COVID-19 pandemic, these results emphasize the importance and value of federal nutrition education programs in any food environment.

Dietary behaviors and food insecurity among Houston college students during the COVID-19 pandemic

Objective: This study assessed the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on college students' nutrition, including dietary behaviors and food security status. Participants: Participants included 140 students between 18 and 25 years of age, who were enrolled in a college or university in the greater Houston area. Methods: Analyses included descriptive statistics, t tests, and ANOVAs to analyze differences in dietary behaviors by demographic variables, and chi-square tests to assess characteristics associated with food security status. Results: The majority of participants reported changing their diets due to the COVID-19 pandemic. There were no significant differences by demographics. However, there were significant differences in food security status by race/ethnicity and social class. Conclusion: This study identified changes and disparities in college students' dietary behaviors and food security status during the COVID-19 pandemic. Findings help inform future policy, programs, and research to address college students' nutrition during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Effect of COVID-19 outbreak on the diet, body weight and food security status of students of higher education: a systematic review

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted college students' lifestyles and placed them at a greater risk of obesity and food insecurity. The purpose of the systematic review was to consolidate evidence for the effect of Covid-19 on students' dietary quality, dietary habits, body weight and food security status. A comprehensive literature search was conducted utilising various databases including Google Scholar, MEDLINE, ScienceDirect, Embase and Scopus to identify relevant studies. To be incorporated in this review, studies had to include higher education students, measure the prevalence of food insecurity and assess the dietary and body weight changes during the COVID-19 pandemic. The studies showed that the diet quality of college students was compromised during the pandemic in many nations due to the decrease in the intake of whole grains, dairy products, legumes, nuts, fruits and vegetables and the increase in consumption of alcohol, confectionery products and refined grains. There was an increase in the frequency of cooking, binge eating, breakfast skipping and unhealthy snacking. These modifications, in return, were associated with body weight changes, with no less than 20 to 30 % of students gaining weight during the pandemic. The pandemic also impacted food security status of students, with over 30% being food insecure worldwide. The COVID-19 outbreak has exacerbated the students' diet quality and dietary habits and placed them under high risk of weight gain and food insecurity. Higher education institutions and governments should improve students' access to nutritious foods and incorporate nutrition education interventions in the curricula.

College Campus Food Pantry Program Evaluation: What Barriers Do Students Face to Access On-Campus Food Pantries?

The purpose of this study was to explore barriers Texas Woman's University (TWU) students face in accessing on-campus food pantries. This cross-sectional, survey-based study was conducted in Fall 2021. Students' use of the food pantries and barriers to utilization, including qualitative questions, were evaluated using descriptive statistics and thematic analyses. Students (n = 529) completed the survey. Despite a high prevalence of food insecurity (49.2%), most students reported never using the pantries (89.8%). Almost half of the students were unaware that these pantries existed on campus (47.8%). More than one in four students believed there were barriers to accessing the pantries, with time tissues, lack of transportation, limited food pantry hours of operation, and social stigma most commonly cited as major barriers to access. Food insecurity remains an urgent problem at TWU since the prevalence has remained high since 2019 despite the institutions' efforts to reduce it. One of those resources has not been utilized as expected, which might impede improvements in food security among students. TWU on-campus food pantries can use these findings to address major barriers by offering after-hours access through the libraries or campus police, partnering with public transportation, and normalizing accessing food assistance.

Consumer experiences of food environments during the Covid-19 pandemic: Global insights from a rapid online survey of individuals from 119 countries

This study investigates consumer experiences of food environments and food acquisition practices during the Covid-19 pandemic. Our rapid assessment online survey featured a convenience sample of 2015 individuals from 119 countries, spanning Western Europe, North America, Latin America, Asia-Pacific, and Africa. Data collection took place in April 2020 during the second month of the pandemic. Participants were recruited via existing networks of the United Nations System Standing Committee on Nutrition, through social media, and by snowballing. The majority of participants were female (71.9%), from low- and middle-income countries (51.0%), and working in nutrition or healthcare (39.3%). Qualitative thematic analysis and descriptive statistics reveal a series of common global experiences related to food availability and accessibility, food prices and affordability, food acquisition practices, and food preparation and consumption. The importance of community food participation, food sharing, and resource allocation are highlighted, along with increasing awareness of healthy diets and food waste. We identify ten synergistic policy entry points to: 1) build resilient and equitable food environments resistant to stresses and shocks; 2) harness positive dietary-related behaviors manifested during the pandemic; and, 3) mitigate the projected nutrition crisis and promote sustainable healthy diets for all.

Development of a Web-App for the Ecological Momentary Assessment of Dietary Habits among College Students: The HEALTHY-UNICT Project

The transition from adolescence to adulthood is a critical period for the development of healthy behaviors. Yet, it is often characterized by unhealthy food choices. Considering the current pandemic scenario, it is also essential to assess the effects of coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) on lifestyles and diet, especially among young people. However, the assessment of dietary habits and their determinants is a complex issue that requires innovative approaches and tools, such as those based on the ecological momentary assessment (EMA). Here, we describe the first phases of the “HEALTHY-UNICT” project, which aimed to develop and validate a web-app for the EMA of dietary data among students from the University of Catania, Italy. The pilot study included 138 students (mean age 24 years, SD = 4.2; 75.4% women), who used the web-app for a week before filling out a food frequency questionnaire with validation purposes. Dietary data obtained through the two tools showed moderate correlations, with the lowest value for butter and margarine and the highest for pizza (Spearman’s correlation coefficients of 0.202 and 0.699, respectively). According to the cross-classification analysis, the percentage of students classified into the same quartile ranged from 36.9% for vegetable oil to 58.1% for pizza. In line with these findings, the weighted-kappa values ranged from 0.15 for vegetable oil to 0.67 for pizza, and most food categories showed values above 0.4. This web-app showed good usability among students, assessed through a 19-item usability scale. Moreover, the web-app also had the potential to evaluate the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on students’ behaviors and emotions, showing a moderate impact on sedentary activities, level of stress, and depression. These findings, although interesting, might be confirmed by the next phases of the HEALTHY-UNICT project, which aims to characterize lifestyles, dietary habits, and their relationship with anthropometric measures and emotions in a larger sample of students.

The HOME Study: Understanding How College Students at a Hispanic Serving Institution Coped with Food Insecurity in a Pandemic

College students represent a unique population of adults, who may be more likely to experience food insecurity due to their transient circumstances, limited access to resources, and increased educational expenses. But little is known about how college students and their households mitigate food insecurity, particularly during a crisis like the COVID-19 pandemic. The Household Observations of Meals and Environments (HOME) Study described how college students in the US utilized multilevel resources, including an on-campus food pantry, to maintain food security during the pandemic. A convenience sample of college students (n = 18) were recruited from an on-campus food pantry and provided quantitative and qualitative data through online surveys and in-depth Zoom interviews. Survey data were analyzed to describe sociodemographic characteristics. In-depth interviews were recorded, transcribed, coded, and analyzed thematically to identify emergent themes. Social support and the use of an on-campus food pantry were primary factors in maintaining a food security safety net. Students faced barriers when trying to access federal and state food assistance programs and identified multilevel resources, their food security, and the role of social support as facilitators in their perceptions of food insecurity status and experiences. Findings highlight practical implications for research related to on-campus food insecurity interventions and policies to support food security among college students.