Increased risk of eating disorders among private university students facing food insecurity

Food insecurity is a growing concern on college campuses and may contribute to disordered eating through financial stress, disrupted eating patterns, and food preoccupation. This study examined the association between food insecurity and eating disorder risk among 548 students in the Northeast using data from an online survey. Food security was assessed using the Six-Item Short Form U.S. Household Food Security Survey Module and eating disorder risk using the five-item SCOFF questionnaire, with scores greater than 1 indicating a positive screen. A partial proportional odds model with the SCOFF score as an ordinal outcome and Poisson regression with robust variance were employed. In the adjusted partial proportional odds model, low food security (PR = 2.68; 95% CI: 1.79–4.03; p < 0.001) and very low food security (OR = 3.18; 95% CI: 2.09–4.83; p < 0.001) were associated with higher odds of endorsing more SCOFF items. Poisson models produced consistent results: low food security was associated with twice the prevalence of a positive SCOFF screen (PR = 2.05; 95% CI: 1.57–2.68; p < 0.001), and very low food security with similarly elevated prevalence (PR = 2.02; 95% CI: 1.53–2.67; p < 0.001). Identifying as a woman or with another gender identity and have a dietary restriction were also independently associated with a positive SCOFF screening. These findings suggest food insecurity is a student health concern linked to elevated eating disorder risk.