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Student Affairs Administrators Learn About Student-Athlete Food Security Challenges

August 7, 2025

A team of Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ researchers presented the findings of the "Running on Empty Study" at the National Association of Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education (NASPA) Conference held in Denver, CO this summer. The study investigates the phenomenon of food insecurity among collegiate student-athletes.

Jenifer Reader, ABD, RDN, associate professor at the University of Idaho Extension and former Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ clinical associate professor, is the principal investigator for this part of the study. Natalie Christensen, RDN, CSSD, Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ director of sports nutrition, and Barbara Gordon, EdD, RDN, Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ professor emeritus, are co-investigators.

The research team explored the experiences of athletic trainers, sports dietitians, and other professionals working with student-athletes in the Big Sky Conference on the factors contributing to food insecurity among student-athletes. Emerging social determinants included financial challenges, competing priorities, cultural/societal impacts, limited life skills, and the food environment. All these factors precipitated on a systems level, including individual, team/athletic department, and university/societal tiers.

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