Minnesota School Obesity Prevention Policies: Leader or Laggard?

Introduction: States leading the nation in school obesity prevention policies may serve as models for other states. Methods: Using the 2008 School Health Profiles principal's data, three physical activity (PA) items and four food/nutrition and PA scales were compared between 300 Minnesota (MN) and 6,432 secondary schools in 27 other states. Scales included: 1) less healthy snack and beverage availability (α=0.75), 2) use of healthy eating strategies (α=0.65), 3) prohibited advertisement of less healthy foods (α=0.88) and 4) physical education (PE) teacher qualifications (α=0.75). Results: MN scored lower on less healthy snack and beverage availability (scale of 10, low score better; mean=5.1 vs. 4.4, p=0.0003) and PE teacher qualifications (scale of 6, high score better; mean=4.9 vs. 5.1, p=0.012). MN was less likely to require PE for students in any grade 6-12 (p=0.010), teach PE in grades 11 and 12 (p=<0.0001 for both), and offer intramural activities (p=0.021). Both MN and sampled schools scored similarly on prohibited advertisement. MN reported greater use of healthy eating strategies (scale of 5, high score better; mean=1.8 vs. 1.4, p=< 0.0001), was less likely to allow exemption from a required PE course (p=<0.0001 to 0.701), and was more likely to teach PE in grades 6 and 10 (p=0.030 and 0.003 respectively). Discussion: MN leads the way in using healthy eating strategies and disallowing exemptions from PE. However, other state leaders need to be identified in the areas of snack/beverage and intramural availability, PE teacher training and for requiring PE in secondary education.