P39 Prevalence and Correlates of Medical Disorders Among Food Insecure Students at Appalachian State University

Background Food insecurity is a public health problem among US college students. Research has focused on identifying sociodemographic correlates, with few studies identifying co-existing medical disorders that may make it more challenging for food insecure students to access an adequate diet. Objective Compare rates of medical disorders and correlates among food insecure students. Study design, setting, and participants Cross-sectional online survey of 247 food insecure students at Appalachian State University, 20% males and 60% females, 24% freshmen/sophomores and 50% juniors/seniors, and 75% whites. Measurable Outcome/Analysis Food insecurity, medical disorders, coping strategies and perceived barriers for accessing food, and academic progress. Descriptive and inferential procedures were used for comparisons. Statistical significance was P Results Six thousand students were recruited, and 437 (7.3%) submitted complete questionnaires. Food insecurity affected 247 (56.5%) students, of whom 166 (67.2%) had one or more medical disorders. The most common disorders were psychiatric (40.5%) and gastrointestinal (31.6%). Coping strategies for food insecure students with and without disorders, respectively, included “brought food back to school” (90.9% vs. 63.0%) and “ate less healthy food to eat more” (77.7% vs. 49.4%). Food insecure students with disorders more often spent money on medications and medical devices (P Conclusion Rates of food insecurity are higher among students with than without medical disorders. Findings indicate a need for continued efforts to facilitate access to nutritious food by college students, especially by those with medical disorders. Funding None.