Food and Nutrition Insecurity Among Medical Students at a Historically Black Medical School

Food and nutrition insecurity (FNI) is increasingly recognized as a barrier to aca-demic performance and well-being in higher education, yet most data are drawn from predominantly white institutions. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and impact of FNI among medical students at Howard University College of Medicine (HUCM), a historically Black institution. In Spring 2025, a cross-sectional survey incorporating the USDA Six-Item Short Form Food Security Scale was distributed to all HUCM medical students. Additional questions assessed demographics, financial concerns, and the perceived academic impact of FNI. Responses were anonymized and analyzed using descriptive statistics. Of 120 respondents, 79% identified as Black, 85% relied on loans, and 49% met USDA criteria for food insecurity, with 23% experiencing very low food security. Thirty-one percent reported unreliable access to healthy foods, and 71% skipped or downgraded meals due to financial or time constraints. More than four in five students expressed concern about basic living expenses, and 35% reported that FNI negatively impacted academic performance in the last month. A majority (92%) endorsed the need for on-campus food resources, and 83% indicated willingness to contribute to a student-run garden. These findings provide the first institution-level data on FNI in a majority Black medical student population and highlight the urgent need to reform financial support models in medical education.