A Quantitative Study Examining Compliance to the Saudi Policy and IOM Standards in Boys' Public High Schools in Riyadh, SA

Abstract

This study assessed the Saudi school nutrition policy and its implementation by comparing it to the Institute of Medicine standards. A total of 76 boys' public high schools were randomly selected from four areas in Riyadh (19 north, 19 south, 19 east, and 19 west). Principals and canteen managers were interviewed using validated questionnaires. Schools were observed using a food checklist. A scoring system was used to determine the level of compliance in implementing the Saudi policy, while the IOM standards were used to assess the nutritional compositions of food offered in schools. Food offered in Saudi's schools comes prepackaged with minimal cooking in schools. Alignment scores that assessed the Saudi policy were categorized in 4 levels as categories with the lowest showing 0%-25% compliance and the highest showing 75%- 100 % compliance. For the Saudi policy, 44.7% (34) of the schools scored in category 2, 50% (38) scored in category 3, and only 5.3% (4) scored in the highest category 4. For the IOM standards, 96.1% (73) of the schools scored in category 1, and only 3.9% (3) scored in category 2. The IOM focuses on nutrients of food that should be offered in schools, while the Saudi policy focuses on food sanitation, and identifying foods that should not be offered in school and not what should be offered. Because the Saudi dietary guidelines are based on the American guidelines, the Saudi Ministry of Education supported this study. The investigators will provide the ministry with a designed policy and recommendations.