259223 Availability of low-nutrient, energy-dense snacks and beverages in Minnesota secondary schools: Statewide trends from 2002-2010

Tuesday, October 30, 2012 : 9:08 AM - 9:24 AM

Martha Y. Kubik, PhD, RN , School of Nursing, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
Cynthia Davey, MS , University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
Richard MacLehose, PhD , University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
Toben F. Nelson, ScD , Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
Sara Coulter, MPH, RD , School of Medicine, Program in Health Disparities Research, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
Brandon Coombes, MS , University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
Marilyn S. Nanney, PhD, MPH, RD , Dept of Family Medicine & Community Health, Program in Health Disparities Research, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
     
Statewide surveillance data provide an untapped opportunity to assess change over time in prevalent school food practices before and after implementation of the 2004 Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act in 2006-2007 and important feedback as local, state and federal policy continues to evolve in response to the childhood obesity epidemic.

As part of the Centers for Disease Control School Health Profiles, school-level data were collected biennially from 2002-2010 from a cross-sectional statewide sample of Minnesota middle (n=170) and high (n=392) schools. Using data from the principal's survey, we examined change over time in availability of low-nutrient, energy-dense (LNED) snacks/beverages in vending machines/school stores (VMSS). General linear models specifying a binomial distribution and independent correlation structure, with adjustments for school-level demographics were used. Among high schools, a decreasing trend in availability in VMSS of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) (p=0.004), candy (p=<0.001) and high-fat salty snacks (p=<0.001) occurred from 2002-2008. From 2008-2010, an increase in availability of SSB (p=0.04) was evident, while slope estimates for candy (p=0.45) and high-fat salty snacks (p=0.09) were not significantly different. Among middle schools, a decreasing trend in availability of SSB (p=<0.0001), candy (p=0.03) and high-fat salty snacks (p=0.001) occurred from 2002-2010.

Study results suggest that initial improvements seen in LNED availability in high schools are stalling, and in the case of SSB, possibly reversing. In contrast, gains in middle schools were still evident in 2010. This mixed bag of gains, losses and stalls exemplifies the need for continued and careful monitoring of the school food environment.

Learning Areas:
Public health or related public policy

Learning Objectives:
1. Compare and contrast trends in availability of low-nutrient, energy-dense snacks and beverages in middle and high schools before and after federal policy implementation in 2006 2. Discuss policy implications at the school-level and link to common food practices

Keywords: Nutrition, Policy/Policy Development

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am a co-investigator on the NIH-funded grant and have expertise in area of evaluating school food practices and policies.
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: 4034.0: Monitoring School Nutrition and Activity Policies Over Time: Identifying Gains, Losses, Stalls and Disparities