Characterization of variation in inclusion of competitive‐food policy items in South Carolina school‐district wellness policies

Abstract

South Carolina school districts instituted local wellness policies addressing competitive foods in response to Child Nutrition and Women, Infants and Child Reauthorization Act in 2004. Local districts vary in propensity to address the availability of competitive foods in schools, but this has not been well characterized. This study examined variation across the 85 public school districts in South Carolina through a content analysis of wellness policy documents using Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Wellness Policy Coding Tool. For each district, 28 competitive‐food policy items were coded as either present or absent. The policy items most frequently included were regulating vending machines, limiting or specifying fat or sugar content of foods or beverages, not using food for reward or punishment, limiting beverages or foods or their serving size, and regulating school stores, a la carte items, or foods sold for fundraising. The number of policy items included in a district policy ranged from 0 to 16 for primary schools and 0 to 22 for secondary schools. Cluster analysis identified five clusters of districts with similar policies based on the items, with the clusters differentiated on number of items and which items were included. These results advance understanding of variation in inclusion of policy items, but inclusion does not equate to districts' commitment to implement or effectiveness if implemented.