Food Insecurity and Academic Performance among Postsecondary Students: A Global Scoping Review

Food insecurity is increasingly recognized as a significant public health concern among postsecondary students worldwide. Emerging evidence suggests that inadequate access to food may negatively affect academic success; however, the scope and consistency of this relationship have not been comprehensively synthesized. This scoping review aimed to systematically identify, map, and summarize the existing literature on the relationship between food insecurity and academic performance among postsecondary students worldwide. The review was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews guidelines. Six electronic databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and ERIC) were searched from inception to November 2025. Eligibility criteria were defined using the Population, Concept, Context framework. Data were extracted and synthesized descriptively. Of 3078 records identified, 86 studies met the inclusion criteria, including 67 quantitative studies, 11 qualitative studies, and 8 mixed-methods studies. Most studies were conducted in the United States (n = 69). Across study designs, food insecurity was consistently associated with poorer academic outcomes, including lower grade point average, reduced academic achievement, impaired concentration, lower class attendance and engagement, increased course withdrawal and failure, delayed graduation, and lower educational attainment. Several studies identified anxiety, depression, psychological undefined distress, sleep disturbances, and financial strain as potential mechanisms linking food insecurity to academic performance. Qualitative evidence highlighted students' experiences of hunger, fatigue, stress, competing financial demands, and work-study disagreement as barriers to academic success. The available evidence consistently indicates that food insecurity is associated with poorer academic performance among postsecondary students. Addressing food insecurity is a strategic opportunity to support student success, retention, and educational attainment. Additional longitudinal and intervention studies are needed to strengthen causal inference and identify effective approaches to improving both food security and academic outcomes in higher education settings.