Body Mass Index, Sleep, and Food Insecurity Predict Prevalence of Anxiety and Depression in College Students

Makenzie Barr-Porter; Amelia Sullivan; Jade McNamara

doi:10.1177/15598276251339613

Body Mass Index, Sleep, and Food Insecurity Predict Prevalence of Anxiety and Depression in College Students

Makenzie Barr-Porter
, Amelia Sullivan
, Jade McNamara

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

4 Scopus citations

Abstract

This study aimed to assess the relationship between mental health, health behaviors, and food security in young adults in a university environment. Young adults (N = 536) at two United States universities completed a survey assessing health behaviors and characteristics. Logistic regression determined the odds of anxiety and/or depression based on gender identity, body mass index (BMI), food security status (FSS), and sleep restfulness. Over one-third of students were food insecure (36.7%), and almost all reported anxiety (57%) and/or depression (39.1%). Students who identified as female, reported very low FSS, poor sleep, and had higher BMI were at greater odds for the prevalence of depression. Students with poor sleep and low FSS were more likely to report mental health challenges. Universities should focus on priorities and interventions among at-risk students.

Original language	English
Article number	15598276251339613
Journal	American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1177/15598276251339613
State	Accepted/In press - 2025

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© Copyright 2025 The Author(s).

Funding

The author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: This work was supported by University of Kentucky Department of Dietetics and Human Nutrition and USDA NIFA AFRI SEED (grant no. 2021-68015-33432).

Funders	Funder number
University of Kentucky Department of Dietetics and Human Nutrition
USDA NIFA AFRI SEED	2021-68015-33432

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 2 Zero Hunger
SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being

Keywords

anxiety
college students
depression
food insecurity
mental health
sleep

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Medicine (miscellaneous)
Health Policy
Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

Access to Document

10.1177/15598276251339613

Cite this

@article{07123a2809e140e8a71459b8893e0700,

title = "Body Mass Index, Sleep, and Food Insecurity Predict Prevalence of Anxiety and Depression in College Students",

abstract = "This study aimed to assess the relationship between mental health, health behaviors, and food security in young adults in a university environment. Young adults (N = 536) at two United States universities completed a survey assessing health behaviors and characteristics. Logistic regression determined the odds of anxiety and/or depression based on gender identity, body mass index (BMI), food security status (FSS), and sleep restfulness. Over one-third of students were food insecure (36.7\%), and almost all reported anxiety (57\%) and/or depression (39.1\%). Students who identified as female, reported very low FSS, poor sleep, and had higher BMI were at greater odds for the prevalence of depression. Students with poor sleep and low FSS were more likely to report mental health challenges. Universities should focus on priorities and interventions among at-risk students.",

keywords = "anxiety, college students, depression, food insecurity, mental health, sleep",

author = "Makenzie Barr-Porter and Amelia Sullivan and Jade McNamara",

year = "2025",

doi = "10.1177/15598276251339613",

language = "English",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Body Mass Index, Sleep, and Food Insecurity Predict Prevalence of Anxiety and Depression in College Students

AU - Barr-Porter, Makenzie

AU - Sullivan, Amelia

AU - McNamara, Jade

PY - 2025

Y1 - 2025

N2 - This study aimed to assess the relationship between mental health, health behaviors, and food security in young adults in a university environment. Young adults (N = 536) at two United States universities completed a survey assessing health behaviors and characteristics. Logistic regression determined the odds of anxiety and/or depression based on gender identity, body mass index (BMI), food security status (FSS), and sleep restfulness. Over one-third of students were food insecure (36.7%), and almost all reported anxiety (57%) and/or depression (39.1%). Students who identified as female, reported very low FSS, poor sleep, and had higher BMI were at greater odds for the prevalence of depression. Students with poor sleep and low FSS were more likely to report mental health challenges. Universities should focus on priorities and interventions among at-risk students.

AB - This study aimed to assess the relationship between mental health, health behaviors, and food security in young adults in a university environment. Young adults (N = 536) at two United States universities completed a survey assessing health behaviors and characteristics. Logistic regression determined the odds of anxiety and/or depression based on gender identity, body mass index (BMI), food security status (FSS), and sleep restfulness. Over one-third of students were food insecure (36.7%), and almost all reported anxiety (57%) and/or depression (39.1%). Students who identified as female, reported very low FSS, poor sleep, and had higher BMI were at greater odds for the prevalence of depression. Students with poor sleep and low FSS were more likely to report mental health challenges. Universities should focus on priorities and interventions among at-risk students.

KW - anxiety

KW - college students

KW - depression

KW - food insecurity

KW - mental health

KW - sleep

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105004759475

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105004759475#tab=citedBy

U2 - 10.1177/15598276251339613

DO - 10.1177/15598276251339613

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:105004759475

SN - 1559-8276

JO - American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine

JF - American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine

M1 - 15598276251339613

ER -

Body Mass Index, Sleep, and Food Insecurity Predict Prevalence of Anxiety and Depression in College Students

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Funding

UN SDGs

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this