Adherence
The widespread availability of competitive foods (sodas, snacks) in schools is causally linked to increased total calorie, fat, and sugar intake and decreased fruit and vegetable consumption in students.
If you are a school administrator, do not assume that removing soda and chips will bankrupt your food service. Evidence indicates that schools can upgrade to healthier options without losing revenue, and students may actually choose the school lunch more often if the junk food alternatives are gone.
Several studies have related the availability of snacks and drinks sold in schools to higher intakes of total calories, soft drinks, total fat and saturated fat, and lower intakes of fruits and vegetables, milk, and key nutrients (Cullen et al. 2000; Cullen and Thompson 2005; Cullen and Zakeri 2004; Kubik et al. 2003).
Why this rating
Based on multiple cited longitudinal and cross-sectional studies (SNDA-III, SHPPS) showing consistent associations.
Source
Schools and Obesity Prevention: Creating School Environments and Policies to Promote Healthy Eating and Physical Activity
Mary Story et al. · Milbank Quarterly · 2009
DOI 10.1111/j.1468-0009.2009.00548.x
More from this paper
- Adding up to one hour of daily physical activity to the school curriculum does not negatively impact academic achievement and may improve learning efficiency.Good
- Farm-to-school programs and school gardens show promise in increasing fruit and vegetable intake and meal participation, but rigorous evaluation is lacking.Moderate
Related findings · Adherence
- Regular physical activity (at least 150 minutes/week of moderate-intensity) reduces all-cause and cardiovascular mortality by 20-30% and lowers the risk of type 2 diabetes by 25-35%.Strong
- Increasing physical activity from a sedentary lifestyle to an active one in middle adulthood significantly reduces the risk of coronary events compared to remaining sedentary.Strong
- Resistance exercise is the only intervention capable of consistently restoring muscle function and strength in sarcopenia, partially overcoming age-related anabolic resistance.Strong
This is one finding among thousands. Every one is graded and traced to its source, so you can see what the evidence actually supports. Browse the research →