Little empirical research has been done to support policies that increase access to free drinking water as part of comprehensive strategies to reduce consumption of sugary beverages and prevent childhood obesity. This study will examine beverage environments in 20 diverse high schools in King County, Wash., to guide the development of effective school water policies by providing evidence on specific aspects of school water access and student water/sugary beverage consumption at school and on the feasibility of implementing school policies to improve water access. Study aims are to: 1) describe the sources and types of water and sugary beverages that are available to high school students while they are on school campuses, including water quality characteristics related to water appearance, temperature, flow, and maintenance of school water access points; 2) develop, test, and implement a protocol to sample and assess student water consumption and sugary beverage consumption at school; 3) determine associations between students’ access and consumption at school and the degree to which these vary by school demographics, including race/ethnicity and income; and 4) explore the perceptions of school administrators about access to water and potential policy and environmental changes that could be made to improve water access.
Start Date: February 2014
ID #: 71640
Principal Investigator: Donna Johnson, RD, PhD
Organization: University of Washington
Funding Round: Round 8
Age Group: Adolescents (grades 9 to 12)
Focus Areas: Beverages, School & After School
Keywords: Competitive foods, Rural, Sugar-sweetened beverages, Urban, Vending machines, Water
Resource Type: Grant Summary
Race/Ethnicity: Multi-racial/ethnic
State: Washington
Related Research
November 2024
School-based nutrition education programs alone are not cost effective for preventing childhood obesity: a microsimulation study
Although interventions to change nutrition policies, systems, and environments (PSE) for children are generally cost effective for preventing childhood obesity, existing evidence suggests that nutrition education curricula, without accompanying PSE changes, are more commonly implemented. This study aimed to estimate the societal costs and potential for cost-effectiveness of 3 nutrition education curricula frequently implemented in MoreSeptember 2024
Water Is K’é: Learning from the Navajo Community to Promote Early Child Health
Drinking water instead of sugary drinks is key to reducing health disparities. Since beverage habits are shaped by complex personal, community, and environmental factors, community input is critical to design any intervention promoting water. The research team worked with community partners to design a program to promote healthy beverage habits among young Navajo children. The MoreSeptember 2024