Changes to the school food and physical activity environment after guideline implementation in British Columbia, Canada

Allison W Watts,Patti-Jean Naylor,Louise C Mâsse

doi:10.1186/1479-5868-11-50

Abstract

BackgroundHigh rates of childhood obesity have generated interest among policy makers to improve the school food environment and increase students’ levels of physical activity. The purpose of this study was to examine school-level changes associated with implementation of the Food and Beverage Sales in Schools (FBSS) and Daily Physical Activity (DPA) guidelines in British Columbia, Canada.MethodsElementary and middle/high school principals completed a survey on the school food and physical activity environment in 2007–08 (N = 513) and 2011–12 (N = 490). Hierarchical mixed effects regression was used to examine changes in: 1) availability of food and beverages; 2) minutes per day of Physical Education (PE); 3) delivery method of PE; and 4) school community support. Models controlled for school enrollment and community type, education and income.ResultsAfter policy implementation was expected, more elementary schools provided access to fruits and vegetables and less to 100% fruit juice. Fewer middle/high schools provided access to sugar-sweetened beverages, French fries, baked goods, salty snacks and chocolate/candy. Schools were more likely to meet 150 min/week of PE for grade 6 students, and offer more minutes of PE per week for grade 8 and 10 students including changes to PE delivery method. School community support for nutrition and physical activity policies increased over time.ConclusionPositive changes to the school food environment occurred after schools were expected to implement the FBSS and DPA guidelines. Reported changes to the school environment are encouraging and provide support for guidelines and policies that focus on increasing healthy eating and physical activity in schools.

Highlights

Over the course of the school day, children have many opportunities to purchase less healthful food and beverages [1,2,3,4]
The purpose of this study was to examine school-level changes associated with the implementation of the Food and Beverage Sales in British Columbia (BC, Canada) Schools (FBSS) and Daily Physical Activity (DPA) guidelines in BC
For grade 6 students, 65.2% of schools reported full implementation of the DPA guidelines followed by 56% and 51% for grade 8 and 10 students, respectively

Summary

Introduction

Over the course of the school day, children have many opportunities to purchase less healthful food and beverages [1,2,3,4]. To address population-wide childhood obesity, a growing number of jurisdictions in the U.S, Canada, and abroad have introduced school policies that restrict the types of foods and beverages sold and increase time requirements for physical activity at school. Several studies have found that the implementation of school nutritional policies has restricted the availability [18,19,20,21] and consumption [22,23] of less healthful food at school, while others have found little or no association [3,4]. High rates of childhood obesity have generated interest among policy makers to improve the school food environment and increase students’ levels of physical activity. The purpose of this study was to examine school-level changes associated with implementation of the Food and Beverage Sales in Schools (FBSS) and Daily Physical Activity (DPA) guidelines in British Columbia, Canada

Objectives

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion