Social Determinants of Food Insecurity in Athlete Populations

Abstract

Although the sensitivity of university students to food insecurity is well-established, there are few studies focusing on the prevalence of food insecurity among student athletes in our country, and the literature is insufficient. The aim of this study is to examine the social determinants of food insecurity in athlete populations and to explore the factors associated with it. The study included 212 volunteer students (88 women and 124 men) studying at the Faculty of Sports Sciences of Süleyman Demirel University during the 2025-2026 academic year and involved in different sports branches. The Food Insecurity Scale in Athletes was used to examine new athletes in terms of food insecurity and to determine food insecurity by observing changes in athletes who continue to participate in sports. Data analysis revealed that the data showed a normal distribution, and significant differences were found in the sub-dimensions of gender, age, department, class, type of accommodation, monthly income, and skipped meals (p<0.05). Men were more affected by food insecurity than women. Furthermore, food insecurity scores were found to be higher in obese individuals and students in the coaching department, indicating a greater severity of food insecurity in these groups. The research revealed that university athletes are vulnerable to food insecurity due to rising costs and difficulties in accessing tuition, housing, and food.

Keywords

• Food insecurity
• University athletes
• Sports sciences
• Sports nutrition

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