Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #114653

Jane J. Thompson, RD, LDN¹, Suet Lim, PhD², Joan Nachmani, MS, CNS, SFNS³, and Shortie McKinney, PhD, RD, FADA¹. (1) Nutrition Center, Dept of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Drexel University, 3141 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, 215-895-2422, jjt32@drexel.edu, (2) STEPS to a Healthier Philadelphia, Philadelphia Dept of Public Health, 1101 Market St, 9th Fl, Philadelphia, PA 19107, (3) School District of Philadelphia, Division of Food Services, JFK Center - Room 430, 734 Schuylkill Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19146

High-calorie beverages, such as soda, contribute to the unhealthy environment in many schools nationwide. According to the School Health Policies and Programs Study 2000, 94% of high schools surveyed sell soft drinks, sports drinks, or fruit drinks (not 100% juice) through school stores, canteens, and/or vending machines. Some school districts have responded to the unhealthy nutrition environment in schools and rising rates of childhood obesity by restricting certain beverages sold at school. However, these policies have not been formally evaluated. The School District of Philadelphia recently implemented one of the strictest beverage policies in the nation. Survey instruments were developed to evaluate policy implementation and impact among high school students. In addition, Food Service Managers (FSMs) were mailed an anonymous 17-item survey assessing policy knowledge and opinion, preparedness for change, and availability of nutrition education regarding beverages (47.4% out of 333 surveys returned). FSMs from all regions of the city responded with 15% of high schools represented. Beverage beliefs/ practices and policy knowledge/ opinion among high school students (grades 9-12) were measured using a 44-item survey in June 2004. 6 high schools were surveyed. Student survey results (n=468) show a majority of students (60.5%) believe the policy could affect their beverage choices. 62.6% of FSMs indicate preparedness for policy change. Results suggest increasing FSM preparedness for policy changes could influence degree of policy implementation and impact student beverage choices. This evaluation project will provide evidence of policy impact on health behavior.

Learning Objectives: After this session, the participant will be able to

• Understand the nutritional implications of a beverage policy.
• Recognize the importance of evaluation in beverage policy implementation.
• List 3 reasons why beverage policy implementation needs to be evaluated in conjunction with policy impact.

Keywords: School-Based Programs, Nutrition

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.