Factors Associated with Successful Development and Implementation of School Wellness Policies

This project will be a natural experiment examining issues related to school wellness policy development and implementation, and changes in school nutrition environments as schools work to comply with the wellness policy mandate. The aims of this project are to describe adequacy of wellness policies submitted by Pennsylvania Local Education Agencies, assess level of policy More

Study of Environmental and Policy Factors Impacting Healthy Eating Behaviors for Low-Income Elementary Students in Colorado

This project is designed to identify and evaluate environmental and policy features related to healthy eating among elementary schools located throughout low-income, Hispanic and non-Hispanic, urban and rural Colorado. In a longitudinal design, student diet recalls and school level food-related sales records will be used to assess diet and eating patterns over time. Environmental and More

A National Study of Public School Food Environments and Policies and Their Relationship to Diet and Obesity Among Students

The purpose of the study is: (a) to identify School Food Policy Environments and Policies (SFEPs) that are most likely to affect students’ dietary behaviors and/or weight, and (b) to understand how both the existence and impact of SFEPs may vary along socio-economic and racial/ethnic lines. Results of our proposed analyses will suggest which, if More

Study on Food Policies and Environments In and Around Elementary Schools and Their Relationship with Food Consumption and Body Mass Index

The purpose of this study is to examine the influence of state competitive food policies, food environments inside schools, and food environments nearby schools on children’s food purchases, consumption, and body mass using data on a national sample of elementary school children. In addition, the study will examine socioeconomic and racial/ethnic disparities in school food More

School Nutrition Standards Policy Implementation: Economic Impact and the Role of Key Stakeholders

North Carolina passed legislation to implement recommended nutrition standards in schools. A pilot study conducted in 2004-05 in seven school districts (123 elementary schools varying by size, region, and demographics) resulted in substantial revenue loss and resistance from administrators, teachers, parents, and students. We propose an in-depth analysis of the financial impact and implementation barriers More

Taking National School Wellness Policy to Scale: Evaluating School Food Policy Implementation Within an Urban School System

In 2006, Atlanta Public Schools will implement mandated wellness policies in all the schools at every level. Each school may develop and implement its own plan. This study will investigate the social, economic, organizational, and demographic factors associated with individual schools’ short and longer-term actions in response to the new school wellness policy mandate. Analyses More

The Role of Child-Care Settings in Obesity Prevention

A majority of American children participate in non-parental child-care arrangements in child-care centers and homes. The child-care setting can play a major role in shaping children’s dietary intake, physical activity, and energy balance. In this article, the authors discuss trends in child-care use, child-care food and physical activity policies and environments, and obesity prevention interventions More

The Role of Schools in Obesity Prevention

Schools can play an important part in the national effort to prevent childhood obesity. More than 95 percent of American youth aged 5 to 17 are enrolled in school, and no other institution has as much continuous and intensive contact with children during the first two decades of life. Schools can promote good nutrition, physical More