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

Abstract #115474

Amanda S. Birnbaum, PhD, MPH¹, Tracy R. Nichols, PhD², Baxter B. Allen³, Kenneth W. Griffin, PhD, MPH⁴, and Gilbert J. Botvin, PhD⁴. (1) Department of Public Health, Division of Prevention & Health Behavior, Weill Cornell Medical College, 411 East 69th Street, KB-209, New York, NY 10021, 212-746-1270, asb2006@med.cornell.edu, (2) Department of Public Health, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, 411 East 69th Street, KB-201, New York, NY 10021, (3) Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, 1501 Washtenaw Ave, Ann Arbor, MI 48104, (4) Public Health, Cornell Weill Medical College, 411 E 69 St., New York, NY 10021

School lunch is a major context for adolescent eating, yet very little information exists on how adolescents actually spend their lunchtimes. Middle school represents a transitional period when autonomy and importance of peers increase dramatically. These changes are likely to affect not only food choices, but also how and where students choose to spend their discretionary time during lunch. This presentation examines longitudinal data on trends in lunchtime practices among multiethnic NYC students (n=2776) at 4 timepoints from 6th-8th grades. Student surveys were collected as part of a larger group-randomized drug prevention trial. Students were asked “what do you do for lunch on school days?” Response options included 1) Eat School Lunch, 2) Eat Lunch Outside School, 3) Bring Lunch from Home, 4) Go Home for Lunch, or 5) Not Eat Lunch at School. Generalized estimating equations accounting for school-level clustering (n=24 schools) assessed time trends for each lunchtime practice. There were sharp decreases in Eat School Lunch (64.8% in 6th grade vs 41.7% in 8th, OR=0.42, 95%CI=0.35, 0.51) and corresponding increases in Not Eat Lunch at School (17.0% vs 39.5%, OR=2.9, 95%CI=2.28, 3.68). Significant gender differences were present at all timepoints with boys Eating School Lunch more than girls, but only the slope for Not Eating Lunch at School varied significantly by gender, with steeper increases among boys. School-based healthy eating interventions often include lunchroom components and these data may help explain variation in students' exposure to interventions, as well as help inform the design of future interventions.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant will be able to

• describe patterns in adolescents’ lunchtime practices as they develop through middle school,
• discuss the relationship between adolescent developmental growth and changes in lunchtime practices, and
• identify implications of the findings for the design and implementation of school-based healthy eating interventions.

Keywords: Adolescents, School Health

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.