Food Insecurity and Eating Pathology among Different Racial and Ethnic Identities

Food insecurity among students is being considered more in the literature, as evidence emerges suggesting students are at higher risk than the general population. Students who identify as racial/ethnic minorities are more likely to be food insecure than their White peers. Food insecurity has also been linked to increased eating pathology generally, but very little research has been conducted on this link in students. This study sought to replicate findings that food insecurity occurred more frequently in students who identify as racial/ethnic minorities when compared to their White peers, as well as extend previous findings that food insecure students engage in more disordered eating behaviours, specifically binge eating and restriction. Data was collected from undergraduate psychology students, with participants completing validated measures for food insecurity and eating pathology. Results showed that food insecurity did not differ between the minority and non-minority groups and binge eating severity was not correlated with food security status. There was a very weak correlation between restriction and food security status, indicating that students who are food insecure are slightly more likely to engage in restriction. These results do not align with previous findings in other countries, suggesting that student food insecurity presents differently in Canada.