Translate 
Abstract
BackgroundIncreasing attention has been paid to the school food environment as a strategy to reduce childhood obesity. The purpose of this study was to examine associations between the school food environment, students’ dietary intake, and obesity in British Columbia (BC), Canada.MethodsIn 2007/08, principal responses about the school environment (N = 174) were linked to grades 7-12 students (N = 11,385) from corresponding schools, who participated in the BC Adolescent Health Survey. Hierarchical mixed-effect regression analyses examined the association between the school food environment and student’s intake of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs), food consumption, and body mass index. Analyses controlled for school setting, neighborhood education level and student’s age and sex.ResultsSchool availability of SSBs was positively associated with moderate (Odds Ratio (OR) = 1.15, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) = 1.02-1.30) and high (OR = 1.43, 95% CI = 1.13-1.80) SSB intake as were less healthful school nutrition guidelines for moderate SSB consumers only (OR = 0.65, 95% CI = 0.48-0.88). Availability of SSBs at school and its consumption were positively associated with student obesity (OR = 1.50, 95% CI = 1.12-2.01 and OR = 1.66, 95% CI = 1.19-2.34, respectively) but not with overweight. In contrast, consumption of less healthful food was positively associated with overweight (OR = 1.03, 95% CI = 1.01-1.06).ConclusionsThe results of this study provide further evidence to support the important role of schools in shaping adolescents’ dietary habits. Availability and consumption of SSBs, but not less healthful foods, at school were associated with higher adolescent obesity highlighting that other environments also contribute to adolescent obesity.
Highlights
Increasing attention has been paid to the school food environment as a strategy to reduce childhood obesity
Studies have found that the availability of particular food or beverages at school is associated with consumption of those same items [9,13]. These findings suggest that improvements to the school food environment may enable students to make healthier food choices and lower their body mass index (BMI)
This study examined the extent to which the school food environment of grades 7 to 12 students in British Columbia (BC), Canada was associated with consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs), specific food items and BMI
Summary
Increasing attention has been paid to the school food environment as a strategy to reduce childhood obesity. The purpose of this study was to examine associations between the school food environment, students’ dietary intake, and obesity in British Columbia (BC), Canada. Over consumption of empty calories, defined as calories originating from solid fat and added sugar, is seen as an important contributor to childhood obesity [2]. The consumption of empty calories accounts for about 40% of the total calories consumed by US children (2-18 year) of which 22% are from sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) [3]. Intake of all sugar (natural and added) accounts for 25% of total calories of Canadian adolescents of which 36%-44% are from added sugars (predominantly from SSBs) [4]. In the US, research has shown that students are exposed to a wide variety of less healthful food and beverages while at school [8,9,10] and are consuming high amounts of less healthful food while at school; including SSBs and energy dense food (pizza, french fries, chips and candies) [6,8,11]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary 
Published Version (
Free)
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
