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Abstract #148556

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Marilyn S. Nanney, PhD, MPH, RD¹, Claudia Bohner², and Michael Friedrichs². (1) Program in Health Disparities Research, University of Minnesota, 717 Delaware Street SE, Suite 166, Minneapolis, MN 55414, 6126266794, msnanney@umn.edu, (2) Tobacco Prevention and Control Program, Utah Department of Health, 288 N. 1460 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84114

This abstract utilizes data from 2006 Utah School Health Profiles Principal Questionnaire, a state wide survey of middle and high school principals sponsored by the State Office of Education and Health Department with a response rate of 82% (n=209). A summary score was created from responses to the healthy snack and vending offerings (n=6) available to students and include low fat salty snacks, low fat cookies/cakes, 100% fruit juice, fruits and vegetables, bottled water and low fat milk. School demographic variables included free and reduced lunch enrollment and geographic location. After adjusting for race, schools with the highest percent of free/reduced lunch enrollment had fewer healthy snack and vending choices (mean=3.7) than medium (mean=4.3) and low (mean=4.7) (F=6.77, p<.01). Those schools with the lowest percentage of free/reduced lunch participation were 5.3 (CI=1.8-15.4) times more likely to have at least four of the six healthy offerings than schools with the highest percentage. Schools with a medium percentage of free/reduced lunch were 2.9 (CI=1.1-7.8) times more likely. When looking at location, schools in rural settings had fewer healthy choices (mean=3.8) than schools in suburban (mean=4.5) and urban (mean=4.6) settings (F=4.28, p<.01). Urban schools were 3.0 (CI=1.3-7.1) times more likely to have four or more healthy offerings than rural schools. Schools in suburban settings were also 3.0 (CI=1.3-7.2) times as likely to have at least four healthy choices as schools in rural settings. At risk schools were most likely to offer bottled water (92%) and least likely to offer low fat milk (8%).

Learning Objectives:

• Describe characteristics of school districts with the fewest healthy snack and vending choices available.

Keywords: Nutrition, School Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No
Any institutionally-contracted trials related to this submission?

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

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