257288 Anchorage School District School Wellness Policy Evaluation

Monday, October 29, 2012

Wendy Parsons, RN, BSN , 7730 Eastbrook Drive, University of Alaska Anchorage, Anchorage, AK
Gabriel James Garcia, PhD, MA, MPH , Department of Health Sciences, University of Alaska Anchorage, Anchorage, AK
The rate of obesity has steadily increased among adults in Alaska, according to the Alaska Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data from 1991 to 2007. Similar trends have been seen among adolescents and children. The disturbing increase in overweight/obese status, especially among the youth population, has stimulated attempts to curb these trends with policies and programs aimed at impacting the problem of childhood obesity in Alaska. The Anchorage School District (ASD) implemented its School Wellness Policy in 2006. Data analysis from a purposive sample of 7222 student records in the ASD's database from 1999 through 2010, utilizing a retrospective cohort study design, indicated there was no significant association between changes in BMI status and the School Wellness Policy. Factors such as socioeconomic status, race/ethnicity, and gender seem to be significantly associated with changes in BMI status, supporting the need for continued development of effective deterrents to childhood obesity.

Learning Areas:
Advocacy for health and health education
Chronic disease management and prevention
Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs
Public health or related education
Public health or related public policy

Learning Objectives:
Discuss the results of the Anchorage School District school wellness policy evaluation

Keywords: Public Health Policy, Obesity

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I completed the study described in the abstract as a master's thesis practicum project at the University of Alaska. I have disseminated evidence based school health practices though publications and presentations to the Alaska School Nurses Association. I am a school nurse at Campbell Elementary School, Anchorage School District, an active member of the Alaska School Nurses Association and chair of the ASNA Excellence Award.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

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.

Back to: 3406.0: School Wellness Policies: Program Implementation and Evaluation