College Students with Medical Dietary Restrictions Face Financial and Personal Challenges Trying to Meet Nutritional Needs
- 1 School of Nutrition and Food Sciences, Louisiana State University and the LSU AgCenter, Baton Rouge, LA, USA
- 2 School of Nutrition and Food Sciences, Louisiana State University and the LSU AgCenter, Baton Rouge, LA, USA
- 3 School of Nutrition and Food Sciences, Louisiana State University and the LSU AgCenter, Baton Rouge, LA, USA
Abstract
Introduction: Dietary restrictions are followed due to personal choices and/or medical diagnosis. The literature lacks studies focused on the experiences of college students navigating campus life and managing the effects of restricted eating. The goal of this study was to assess how food allergies, food sensitivities, and/or autoimmune disease affect one’s well-being as a college student. Methods: A 33-item web-based survey was promoted to undergraduate and graduate students at a large state institution in Louisiana. Participants needed to identify as having dietary restrictions due to food allergies, food sensitivities, and/or autoimmune disease. Items assessed their prioritization of dietary restrictions, commitment to reading food labels, and common symptoms experienced when eating a restricted food item. Results: People who had food sensitives were found to prioritize their dietary restrictions significantly less than those with allergies or autoimmune diseases ( p < 0.001). This was also reflected in their responses to how often they read food labels, which revealed they were significantly less likely to read labels ( p = 0.005) than those with food allergies. Students with food sensitives were also more likely to report high incidence of gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms. Students also reported issues with locating appropriate foods and financing their dietary needs. Con clusion: Experiencing uncomfortable GI symptoms may interrupt college students’ busy schedules causing an increase in stress, embarrassment, missing class/work, feelings of isolation, and put a strain on intimate relationships. Minimal dietary adherence may lead to an increased risk for decreased GI motility time resulting in malabsorption of vitamins and minerals that could over time cause more serious health issues. Soliciting ideas for the changes students expect to see in university dining facilities to better manage medical dietary restrictions is the next area of focus.
- Alkalay, M. J. (2021). Nutrition in Patients with Lactose Malabsorption, Celiac Disease, and Related Disorders. Nutrients, 14, 2. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14010002
- Bartuzi, M., Szamocka, M., & Ukleja-Sokołowska, N. (2023). Social and Economic Difficulties of Patients with Food Intolerances. Postepy Dermatologii i Alergologii, 40, 298-307. https://doi.org/10.5114/ada.2023.126412
- De Petrillo, A., Hughes, L. D., McGuinness, S., Roberts, D., & Godfrey, E. (2021). A Systematic Review of Psychological, Clinical, and Psychosocial Correlates of Perceived Food Intolerance. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 141, 110344. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychores.2020.110344
- Ersig, A. L., & Williams, J. K. (2018). Student and Parent Perspectives on Severe Food Allergies at College. Journal of Pediatric Health Care, 32, 445-454. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pedhc.2018.03.006
- Gupta, R. S., Springston, E. E., Warrier, M. R., Smith, B., Kumar, R., Pongracic, J., & Holl, J. L. (2011). The Prevalence, Severity, and Distribution of Childhood Food Allergy in the United States. Pediatrics, 128, e9-e17. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2011-0204
- Gupta, R. S., Warren, C. M., Smith, B. M., Jiang, J., Blumenstock, J. A., Davis, M. M., Schleimer, R. P., & Nadeau, K. C. (2019). Prevalence and Severity of Food Allergies among US Adults. JAMA Network Open, 2, e185630. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2018.5630
- Lomer, M. C. (2015). Review Article: the Etiology, Diagnosis, Mechanisms, and Clinical Evidence for Food Intolerance. Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics, 41, 262-275. https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.13041
- Mazzucca, C. B., Raineri, D., Cappellano, G., & Chiocchetti, A. (2021). How to Tackle the Relationship between Autoimmune Diseases and Diet: Well Begun Is Half-Done. Nutrients, 13, 3956. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13113956
- McLaughlin, A. M., Macaulay, T., & Peterson, C. C. (2021). College Students’ Knowledge and Management of Food Allergies. Journal of American College Health, 69, 610-616. https://doi.org/10.1080/07448481.2019.1705832
- Muraro, A., Werfel, T., Hoffmann-Sommergruber, K., Roberts, G., Beyer, K., Bindslev-Jensen, C., Cardona, V., Dubois, A., duToit, G., Eigenmann, P., Fernandez Rivas, M., Halken, S., Hickstein, L., Høst, A., Knol, E., Lack, G., Marchisotto, M. J., Niggemann, B., Nwaru, B. I., Papadopoulos, N. G. et al. (2014). EAACI Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Guidelines: Diagnosis and Management of Food Allergy. Allergy, 69, 1008-1025. https://doi.org/10.1111/all.12429