Journal article
Food insecurity is associated with lower diet quality among dental students
Journal of dental education, Vol.87(11), pp.1574-1584
11/2023
DOI: 10.1002/jdd.13344
PMID: 37537836
Abstract
Abstract Purpose Food insecurity is associated with lower diet quality, adverse health outcomes, and academic difficulty among undergraduate students. The objective was to identify the relationship between food security status and diet quality in dental students. Methods All dental students attending Howard University ( n = 286) or the University of Iowa ( n = 326) during the fall 2021 semester were invited to complete a cross‐sectional survey designed to query demographics, food security status (i.e., United States Department of Agriculture's ten item Adult Food Security Module), and diet quality (i.e., short Healthy Eating Index). The survey was administered using the Qualtrics platform. Results Response rates were similar for Howard (32.5%) and Iowa (29.4%). Students with food insecurity (46.0%) were slightly older and more likely to be Black or other, first generation professional/graduate students, and receive financial aid than peers with food security ( p < 0.050). Food insecurity was associated with lower intakes of fruits and vegetables ( p ≤ 0.005), higher intakes of added sugars ( p < 0.001), and lower diet quality ( p = 0.003). In linear regression analyses that controlled for other variables, food insecurity ( p = 0.012), school site ( p = 0.027), and gender ( p = 0.039) were predictive of lower diet quality. Conclusions The inability to procure adequate and appropriate foods was associated with marginal dietary habits (i.e., less than ideal food choices and eating behaviors) and lower diet quality in dental students. Both marginal dietary habits and lower diet quality increase chronic disease risk and may present a barrier to academic success. Addressing food insecurity among dental students is necessary to ensure equitable opportunities for a healthy workforce in the future.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Food insecurity is associated with lower diet quality among dental students
- Creators
- Teresa A. Marshall - University of IowaBrian Laurence - Howard UniversityFang Qian - University of IowaGillian Robinson-Warner - Howard UniversityNidhi Handoo - University of IowaCari Anderson - University of Iowa
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Journal of dental education, Vol.87(11), pp.1574-1584
- DOI
- 10.1002/jdd.13344
- PMID
- 37537836
- ISSN
- 0022-0337
- eISSN
- 1930-7837
- Language
- English
- Electronic publication date
- 08/03/2023
- Date published
- 11/2023
- Academic Unit
- Preventive and Community Dentistry; Oral Pathology, Radiology and Medicine; School of Social Work; Dental Research
- Record Identifier
- 9984453333802771
Metrics
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