Trends in the Availability ofLess Nutritious Competitive Foodsand Beverages at Schools:Results from School Health Profiles
Howell Wechsler, EdD, MPH
Director, Division of Adolescent and School Health
Southern Obesity Summit, Austin TX, October 5, 2009
Howell Wechsler, EdD, MPH
Director, Division of Adolescent and School Health
Southern Obesity Summit, Austin TX, October 5, 2009
Greater Access to Low-Nutrient,Energy Dense Competitive Foodsat School is Associated With:
■ intake of total calories, soft drinks, total fat,
and saturated fat
Cullen K et al. JADA 100(12): 1482-1486; Cullen K & Thompson D. JADA 105(12): 1952-1954
■ intake of fruits, vegetables, milk, and key
nutrients
Cullen K & Zakeri I. AJPH 94(3): 463-467
■BMI among middle school students
Fox MK et al. JADA 109(2):S108-S117; Kubik M et al. AJPH 93(7): 1168-1173
In 2006: 89% of highschools and 71% of middleschools had either vendingmachines or a school store,canteen or snack bar wherestudents could purchasefoods or beverages
Source: CDC, School Health Policies andPrograms Study 2006
Food or Beverage
MiddleSchools
HighSchools
Chocolate candy
25
50
Cookies or other baked goods not low in fat
28
58
Salty snacks not low in fat (e.g., potato chips)
30
61
Soda pop or fruit drinks that are not 100% juice
45
77
Sport drinks (e.g., Gatorade)
52
75
Percentage of Schools in Which StudentsCould Purchase Selected Food and BeveragesFrom Vending Machines or in a School Store,Canteen, or Snack Bar, by School Level, 2006
Source: CDC, School Health Policies and Programs Study
Percentage of Secondary Schools in WhichStudents Could Purchase Selected Food andBeverages From Vending Machines or in a SchoolStore, Canteen, or Snack Bar, 2000 and 2006
Percentage of Secondary Schools in WhichStudents Could Purchase Selected Food andBeverages From Vending Machines or in a SchoolStore, Canteen, or Snack Bar, 2000 and 2006
Source: CDC, School Health Policies and Programs Study
Recent Developments in theCompetitive Foods Issue
Recent Developments in theCompetitive Foods Issue
■Local Wellness Policy requirement
■Action for Healthy Kids
■Alliance for Healthier Generation
■CSPI state report cards
■States with nutritional standards for comp. foods:
•2004: 6
•2009: 27
■Local Wellness Policy requirement
■Action for Healthy Kids
■Alliance for Healthier Generation
■CSPI state report cards
■States with nutritional standards for comp. foods:
•2004: 6
•2009: 27
■Federally reimbursable schoolnutrition programs should bethe main source of nutrition inschools.
■Opportunities for competitivefoods should be limited.
■If competitive foods areavailable, they should consistprimarily of fruits, vegetables,whole grains, and fat-free orlow-fat milk and milk products.
■A system of surveys assessingschool health policies andprograms in states, territories,large urban school districts, andtribal governments
■Conducted during even-numbered years
■Administered to middle andhigh school principals and leadhealth education teachers
■A system of surveys assessingschool health policies andprograms in states, territories,large urban school districts, andtribal governments
■Conducted during even-numbered years
■Administered to middle andhigh school principals and leadhealth education teachers
Topics Monitored by Profiles
■School health education requirements and content
■Physical education requirements
■School health policies related to HIV infection/AIDS,tobacco-use prevention, and nutrition
■Asthma management activities
■Family and community involvement in school healthprograms
2008 School Health ProfilesState Participation Map
2008 School Health ProfilesState Participation Map
Weighted Results
Unweighted Results
Median Percentage of Secondary SchoolsThat Did Not Sell Less Nutritious Foods andBeverages Among 34 States, 2006 and 2008
Median Percentage of Secondary SchoolsThat Did Not Sell Less Nutritious Foods andBeverages Among 34 States, 2006 and 2008
CDC, School Health Profiles, 2006 and 2008
*Chocolate candy, other candy, salty snacks low in fat
**Not 100% juice
2006
2008
# States WithIncreases
Less nutritiousfoods*
46
Soda pop or fruitdrinks**
38
Sports drinks
28
64
25
34
63
23
44
Percentage of Middle and High Schools That Did Not SellLess Nutritious Foods and Beverages* Outside the SchoolFood Service Program—Selected States and MedianAmong 47 States, 2008
*Baked goods and salty snacks not low in fat, chocolate and other kinds of candy, soda pop or fruit drinks that
are not 100% juice CDC, School Health Profiles
Percentage of Secondary Schools That Did Not Sell LessNutritious Foods and Beverages* Anywhere Outside theSchool Food Service Program, 2008
Percentage of Secondary Schools That Did Not Sell LessNutritious Foods and Beverages* Anywhere Outside theSchool Food Service Program, 2008
*Baked goods not low in fat, salty snacks not low in fat, chocolate candy, other kinds of candy, andsoda pop or fruit drinks that are not 100% juice
13% - 36%
37% - 45%
46% - 57%
58% - 75%
No Data
School Health Profiles, 2008
Percentage of Secondary Schools That Did Not Sell Less NutritiousFoods and Beverages* Outside the School Food Service Program—Selected Southern States and Median Among 47 States, 2008
*Baked goods and salty snacks not low in fat, chocolate and other kinds of candy, soda pop or fruit drinks that
are not 100% juice CDC, School Health Profiles
32
33
34
38
39
41
46
0
20
40
60
80
100
MO
OK
SC
VA
NC
FL
Median
States
Percentage of middle and high schools
Percentage of Secondary Schools That Did Not Sell Less NutritiousFoods and Beverages* Outside the School Food Service Program—Selected Southern States and Median Among 47 States, 2008
*Baked goods and salty snacks not low in fat, chocolate and other kinds of candy, soda pop or fruit drinks that
are not 100% juice CDC, School Health Profiles
46
46
49
53
55
59
62
65
0
20
40
60
80
100
Median
AR
TX
WV
AL
KY
MS
TN
States
Percentage of middle and high schools
Percentage of Schools in Which Students Could Not PurchaseSoda Pop or Fruit Drinks That Are Not 100% Juice—SelectedStates and Median Among 34 States, 2006 and 2008
Percentage of Schools in Which Students Could Not PurchaseSoda Pop or Fruit Drinks That Are Not 100% Juice—SelectedStates and Median Among 34 States, 2006 and 2008
% of Schools
CDC, School Health Profiles
38
22
27
93
60
75
74
63
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Median, 34 States
MS
TN
CT
2006
2008
Percentage of Schools in Which Students Could Not PurchaseCandy and Salty Snacks Not Low in Fat—Selected States andMedian Among 34 States, 2006 and 2008
Percentage of Schools in Which Students Could Not PurchaseCandy and Salty Snacks Not Low in Fat—Selected States andMedian Among 34 States, 2006 and 2008
% of Schools
CDC, School Health Profiles
46
23
31
72
72
64
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Median, 34 States
MS
TN
2006
2008
Percentage of Schools in Which Students Could Not PurchaseSoda Pop or Fruit Drinks Not 100% Juice and Candy or SaltySnacks Not Low in Fat—Alabama, 2006 and 2008
Percentage of Schools in Which Students Could Not PurchaseSoda Pop or Fruit Drinks Not 100% Juice and Candy or SaltySnacks Not Low in Fat—Alabama, 2006 and 2008
% of Schools
CDC, School Health Profiles
Percentage of Schools in Which Students Could Not PurchaseSoda Pop or Fruit Drinks Not 100% Juice and Candy or SaltySnacks Not Low in Fat—West Virginia, 2006 and 2008
Percentage of Schools in Which Students Could Not PurchaseSoda Pop or Fruit Drinks Not 100% Juice and Candy or SaltySnacks Not Low in Fat—West Virginia, 2006 and 2008
% of Schools
CDC, School Health Profiles
Percentage of Schools in Which Students Could Not PurchaseSoda Pop or Fruit Drinks Not 100% Juice and Candy or SaltySnacks Not Low in Fat—Texas, 2006 and 2008
Percentage of Schools in Which Students Could Not PurchaseSoda Pop or Fruit Drinks Not 100% Juice and Candy or SaltySnacks Not Low in Fat—Texas, 2006 and 2008
% of Schools
CDC, School Health Profiles
Percentage of Schools in Which Students Could Not PurchaseSoda Pop or Fruit Drinks Not 100% Juice and Candy or SaltySnacks Not Low in Fat—Arkansas, 2006 and 2008
Percentage of Schools in Which Students Could Not PurchaseSoda Pop or Fruit Drinks Not 100% Juice and Candy or SaltySnacks Not Low in Fat—Arkansas, 2006 and 2008
% of Schools
CDC, School Health Profiles
Percentage of Schools in Which Students Could Not PurchaseCandy or Salty Snacks Not Low in Fat—Arkansas, 2002, 2004,2006, and 2008
Percentage of Schools in Which Students Could Not PurchaseCandy or Salty Snacks Not Low in Fat—Arkansas, 2002, 2004,2006, and 2008
% of Schools
CDC, School Health Profiles
Percentage of Schools in Which Students Could Not PurchaseSoda Pop or Fruit Drinks Not 100% Juice and Candy or SaltySnacks Not Low in Fat—Florida, 2006 and 2008
Percentage of Schools in Which Students Could Not PurchaseSoda Pop or Fruit Drinks Not 100% Juice and Candy or SaltySnacks Not Low in Fat—Florida, 2006 and 2008
% of Schools
CDC, School Health Profiles
Percentage of Schools in Which Students Could Not PurchaseSoda Pop or Fruit Drinks That Are Not 100% Juice—South Carolina and Missouri, 2006 and 2008
Percentage of Schools in Which Students Could Not PurchaseSoda Pop or Fruit Drinks That Are Not 100% Juice—South Carolina and Missouri, 2006 and 2008
% of Schools
CDC, School Health Profiles
Percentage of Schools in Which Students Could Not PurchaseSoda Pop or Fruit Drinks That Are Not 100% Juice—North Carolina and Virginia, 2006 and 2008
Percentage of Schools in Which Students Could Not PurchaseSoda Pop or Fruit Drinks That Are Not 100% Juice—North Carolina and Virginia, 2006 and 2008
% of Schools
CDC, School Health Profiles
Conclusions (1)
Conclusions (1)
■Survey data are critical
■Great progress has been made, albeit unevenly;much more progress is still needed
■Availability of less nutritious foods and beveragesvaries dramatically across states
■Survey data are critical
■Great progress has been made, albeit unevenly;much more progress is still needed
■Availability of less nutritious foods and beveragesvaries dramatically across states
Conclusions (2)
Conclusions (2)
■State policies can make a huge difference
■A strong commitment to school health can makea huge difference
■Large improvements can occur in a relativelyshort period of time
■We can eliminate less nutritious foods andbeverages from school campuses
■State policies can make a huge difference
■A strong commitment to school health can makea huge difference
■Large improvements can occur in a relativelyshort period of time
■We can eliminate less nutritious foods andbeverages from school campuses
Trends in the Availability ofLess Nutritious Competitive Foodsand Beverages at Schools:Results from School Health Profiles
Trends in the Availability ofLess Nutritious Competitive Foodsand Beverages at Schools:Results from School Health Profiles
Howell Wechsler, EdD, MPH
Director, Division of Adolescent and School Health
Southern Obesity Summit, Austin TX, October 5, 2009
Howell Wechsler, EdD, MPH
Director, Division of Adolescent and School Health
Southern Obesity Summit, Austin TX, October 5, 2009