Research: Food Insecurity Is Also a Mental Health Issue

Food insecurity is an increasing concern for university students, with potential consequences extending beyond nutrition to mental health and eating behaviours. Researchers from the University of Wollongong and collaborating institutions surveyed 348 Australian university students to examine relationships between food insecurity, psychological distress and disordered eating risk. Almost two-thirds (63%) experienced some level of food insecurity, while 42% were classified as being at high risk of disordered eating. Students experiencing severe food insecurity were substantially more likely to report psychological distress and were also more likely to be at risk of disordered eating than students who were food secure. Psychological distress also accounted statistically for 43.5% of the association between food insecurity and disordered eating. The findings highlight the value of universities considering food security, nutrition and mental health together, including affordable food initiatives and stronger connections between food assistance and wellbeing services.

Citation: Kent, K., Glavincevski, N., Shuvo, S.D., et al. Associations Between Food Insecurity, Psychological Distress and Disordered Eating Risk in University Students: Evidence from a Cross-Sectional Mediation Analysis. Nutrients, 2026. (link)