Poverty-related factors associated with obesity prevention policies in Utah secondary schools.

Full Abstract

To address the childhood obesity epidemic, numerous national agencies have outlined specific school policy recommendations for nutrition and physical activity. The extent to which current policies differ by socioeconomic status and geographic location is yet to be determined. This cross-sectional study examined select school nutrition and physical activity policies by markers for poverty among 209 middle and high schools in Utah (82% response rate). The results show that students' opportunities to establish healthful dietary and physical activity patterns differed by economic circumstances and geographic location. Schools with the highest percentage of free and reduced-price lunch enrollment and schools in rural areas were both less likely to offer a variety of healthful foods outside of the school meal program (ie, competitive foods and drinks) and intramural activities or physical activity clubs. Schools with highest free and reduced-price lunch enrollment were more likely to allow the purchase of unhealthful snacks during lunchtimes than schools with low enrollment (28.4% vs 7.6%, P=0.01). Schools in rural communities were less likely to promote walking and bicycling to school compared with other locations (47.4% rural vs 67.1% urban and 63.6% suburban, P=0.06). Current school policies related to nutrition and physical activity may not be conducive to reducing the childhood overweight problem among children attending schools in areas with increased risk factors due to poverty or rural location in Utah.

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Author information

Author/s: Nanney, Marilyn S (MS); Bohner, Claudia (C); Friedrichs, Michael (M);

Affiliation: Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, Program in Health Disparities Research, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55414, USA. msnanney(-atsign-)umn.edu <msnanney(-atsign-)umn.edu>

Grants: 1K07 CA114314 (Agency:United States NCI)

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

Journal: Journal of the American Dietetic Association (J Am Diet Assoc), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2008-Jul; vol 108 (issue 7) : pp 1210-5

Dates: Created 2008/06/30; Completed 2008/07/17;

PMID: 18589031, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 11/6/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Adolescent
Adolescent Behavior - psychology
Adolescent Nutrition Physiology - physiology
Chi-Square Distribution
Cross-Sectional Studies
Demography
Exercise - physiology
Female
Health Behavior
Health Education
Health Policy
Health Promotion

Humans
Male
Nutrition Policy
Obesity - epidemiology; prevention & control
Poverty
Public Assistance
Risk Factors
Rural Health
Social Class
Socioeconomic Factors
Students - psychology
Utah - epidemiology

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