This paper examines the variation in high school student access to sugar-sweetened beverages through vending machines by geographic location (urban, town, or rural) in 26 schools in New Hampshire and Vermont. Advertisements on school vending machines were also compared. Researchers found that sugar-sweetened beverages were widely available in school vending machines, appearing and advertised most often in schools located in towns and rural areas compared with urban locations. The most common beverages in the vending machines were flavored water (34.8%), sugar-sweetened beverages (23.6%), and plain water (21.8%). Only three out of 113 vending machines observed contained soda, which were included in the sugar-sweetened beverage category. Most vending machines (83.2%) featured advertisements, with the most common advertisement featuring Dasani waters (63.8%).
Published: May 2013
ID #: 63147
Journal: Public Health
Authors: Adachi-Mejia AM, Longacre MR, Skatrud-Mickelson M, et al
Age Group: Adolescents (grades 9 to 12)
Focus Areas: Beverages, Food Marketing, School & After School
Keywords: Competitive foods, Food advertising, Rural, Snacks, Sugar-sweetened beverages, Urban, Vending machines, Water
Resource Type: Journal Article
States: New Hampshire, Vermont
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