36% of University Students Experience Food Insecurity 

University students usually do not have enough to eat and that can lead to some serious health complications and mental health issues. Hunger can have long-term physical and mental consequences, especially, for low-income students since they are more prone to skipping meals and staying hungry. 

According to the results of a poll of 43,000 students at 66 different schools, conducted by the American Psychological Association, 36 percent of students in the United States are food insecure, which means they don’t have easy access to food. 

Why Does This Happen?

Students have to worry about paying for tuition, housing, groceries, as well as balancing school and work. Many university students are often battling hunger due to rising tuition costs, food availability, housing, as well as financial independence. Not having access to food due to financial reasons can cause minor to major issues. In a document by the U.S Department of Agriculture, they assess the situation by using numerous questions regarding hunger, food, and money. 

According to an article from USA Today, students’ grades drop significantly when they are feeling worried and unsure about when their next meal will come or if they will have a place to sleep that night. In addition, around 21 percent of students have stated that they were homeless. 

However, access to food can also be hampered by area and community factors. People who are living in low-income neighborhoods, or rural locations may experience limited access to supermarkets or grocery stores. This also leads us to another factor which is transportation. People with restricted transportation alternatives such as lack of public transportation or personal transport are at risk of experiencing food insecurity.

What To Do About It? 

Instead of university students eating packaged and processed snacks, there are other options available. They can consume foods rich in protein, healthy fats, and fibrous carbs, by meal prepping, eating on a budget, and price matching costs at several other grocery stores. For example, Kimbino offers online leaflets on grocery brands including Lidl, Tesco, Aldi, Morrisons, Argos, and many more. Additionally, because all the products are affordable, they can assist students in saving money, staying healthy, and living a comfortable life.

Many of these stores, despite having discounted products almost every week, also offer student discounts. In addition, Argos includes a student discount where students can take advantage of the many services including additional discounts and offers for students only. 

Argos catalogue online offers include discounted ornaments, lights, and other Christmas decorations that can help students save money while also adding to the holiday spirit in their dorm room or apartment. Having a cozy and festive environment during the holidays, while they are away from home, will definitely reduce stress and help students relax. 

Does Food Insecurity Lead To Health Issues?

According to Proof, people with financial problems and insecure households have poorer mental and physical health and are more prone to developing chronic diseases. Studies from Hunger in America 2014, reported that families assisted by the Feeding America network have had family members suffering from diet-related diseases. A total of 58 percent of families have had at least one member with high blood pressure, whereas 33 percent of them have had one family member with diabetes. 

More than 27,000 people were surveyed between 1999 and 2014 for research published by the Journal of the American Heart Association. Researchers discovered that those people that reported food insecurity have had a higher occurrence of cardiovascular disease and total death. 

When it comes to students, they often tend to purchase cheap and unhealthy product options made from harmful materials. Because of the bad quality of the products, this can definitely play a hand in suffering from bad health. Acknowledging the occurrence of specific negative health outcomes linked to food insecurity is critical for everyone including health care providers and program administrators tasked to promote health and well-being.