Food environment in elementary schools

Background: Overweight and obesity are increasing rapidly among US children. Schools are an ideal setting for promoting healthy eating, and school-based policy interventions can contribute to obesity prevention efforts. However, there is limited information on the extent and characteristics of food-related policies and practices in schools. Methodology: Data on school food-related practices and policies were obtained in 2007 via a mail-back survey in a nationally representative sample of public and private elementary schools (responding n = 837, response rate = 57.7%). Findings: Preliminary results from the study reveal that in approximately one third of schools, teachers use food as a reward either for good academic performance (30.9%) or for good student behavior (32.1%). In another third, teachers use these two practices although they are discouraged (29.9% and 30.5% respectively), and in the remaining schools these practices were not permitted. For the 76.2% of schools with regular a snacktime in any K-5th grade classes, almost half (45.5%) had a school-wide policy limiting sugar-sweetened snacks. Policies limiting sugar-sweetened items at school parties (e.g., birthdays, holidays) were reported by 30.3% of schools. Having food in class other than at snack time or parties was generally prohibited (77.9% of schools), as were non-water beverages in class (89.8%). Some schools (27.7%) had a school-wide policy addressing the nutritional quality of items sold in school fundraising activities; however, most did not. Conclusion: Preliminary analyses show encouraging findings regarding current practices, but there are many areas for improvements. Implications for such changes will be discussed.