School environmental changes resulting from Arkansas legislation to combat childhood obesity

Obesity is widely recognized as one of the most pressing health threats to families and children across the country. The rates of obesity among adults and children have increased at an alarming rate over recent decades. With the creation and passage of Act 1220 of 2003, Arkansas became a national leader in attempting to address and combat childhood obesity through a comprehensive school-based policy approach. Results of an ongoing evaluation of the Act's effect on school environments and policies will be presented. Annual surveys of schools and school districts indicate that, since the passage of Act 1220, schools have made important changes to: vending machine contents; student access to vending machines, snack bars and snack carts on campus; and to food and beverage options offered in the cafeteria and at school events. Additional changes have occurred in fundraising and physical activity practices. A significant number of school districts have modified recess requirements for elementary schools, developed policies prohibiting the use of physical activity as a punishment, and established procedures for reporting revenues and expenditures from vending contracts. These and other changes are the result of both statewide mandates and local efforts initiated as a result of the Act. This presentation will present data documenting these changes from Year 1 (2003-2004) to Year 3 (2005-2006) of the Act's implementation, as well as results of analyses indicating characteristics of schools that were more likely to make specific types of changes.