The Effect of School Nutrition

Environment on Academic

Performance and Tomorrow’s Health

Maribel Gonzalez, MPH studentWalden University

PUBH 6165-1Instructor: Howard Rubin

Winter 2010

Objectives

To learn the leading causes of To learn the leading causes of children overweight and obesity children overweight and obesity epidemicepidemic

To acquire knowledge of the effect To acquire knowledge of the effect of school nutrition on academic of school nutrition on academic performance and tomorrow’s performance and tomorrow’s health health

To gain insights to improve To gain insights to improve current school nutrition programscurrent school nutrition programs

“Twenty-five million American children are overweight or obese

(1.3).”

Reference:Briefel, R. R., Crepinsek, M. K., Cabili, C., Wilson, A., & Philip, M. G. (2009). School Food Environments and Practices Affect Dietary Behaviors of US Public School Children. The American Dietetic Association, 109(2), S91-S107. doi:10.1016/j.jada.2008.10.059

Leading Causes

Most children eat at least one meal and Most children eat at least one meal and spend half of their time at school.spend half of their time at school.

Schools offer less nutritional items in Schools offer less nutritional items in their meal programs.their meal programs.

Most children have access to vending Most children have access to vending machines and à la carte items.machines and à la carte items.

Reference:Reference:Woodward-Lopez, G., Gosliner, Q., Samuels, S. E., Craypo, L., Kao, J., & Crawford, P. B. (2010). Lessons Learned From Evaluations of California's Statewide School Nutritional Standards. American Journal of Public Health, 100(11), 2137-2145. doi:doi:10.2105/AJPH.2010.193490Robinson-Obrien, R., Burgess-Champoux, T., Haines, J., Hannan, P. J., & Neumark-Sztainer, D. (2010). Associations Between School Meals Offered Through the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program and Fruit and Vegetable Intake Among Ethnically Diverse, Low-Income Children. Journal of School Health, 80(10), 487-492. doi:10.1111/j.1746- 1561.2010.00532.x

Typical Lunchrooms

““Today’s typical lunchroom landscape is Today’s typical lunchroom landscape is one filled with the processed and the one filled with the processed and the reheated: pizza, French fries, and reheated: pizza, French fries, and chicken nuggets rule the land.”chicken nuggets rule the land.”

““A 2004 survey by the School Nutrition A 2004 survey by the School Nutrition Association found pizza and chicken Association found pizza and chicken (‘typically chicken nuggets’) to be the (‘typically chicken nuggets’) to be the most popular cafeteria entrees, and most popular cafeteria entrees, and potatoes and corn to be the most potatoes and corn to be the most popular vegetables.”popular vegetables.”

Reference: Julian, L. (2010). Why School Lunch is "Nasty!". Policy Review, 163, 43-53

Effects

““In 2005 Anderson and Butcher In 2005 Anderson and Butcher estimated that the increase in the estimated that the increase in the availability of junk foods (ie, foods availability of junk foods (ie, foods higher in energy and low in higher in energy and low in nutrients) in schools accounted for nutrients) in schools accounted for one fifth of the increase in body one fifth of the increase in body mass index observed in adolescents mass index observed in adolescents during the past 10 years.”during the past 10 years.”

References:References:Briefel, R. R., Crepinsek, M. K., Cabili, C., Wilson, A., & Philip, M. G. (2009). School Food Environments and Practices

Affect Dietary Behaviors of US Public School Children. The American Dietetic Association, 109(2), S91-S107. doi:10.1016/j.jada.2008.10.059

Effects

““In a review of overweight and In a review of overweight and student school performance, Taras student school performance, Taras and Potts-Datema note the and Potts-Datema note the consistency of the association consistency of the association between childhood overweight and between childhood overweight and poorer levels of academic poorer levels of academic achievement.”achievement.”

Reference: Florence, M. D., Asbridge, M., & Veugelers, P. J. (2008). Diet Quality and Academic Performance. Journal of School Health, 78(4), 209-215. doi:10.1111/j.1746-1561.2008.00288.x

Effects

““Undernourished children have been Undernourished children have been shown to have decreased shown to have decreased attendance, attention, and attendance, attention, and academic performance as well as academic performance as well as experience more health problems experience more health problems compared to well-nourished compared to well-nourished children.”children.”

Reference: Reference:

FFlorence, M. D., Asbridge, M., & Veugelers, P. J. (2008). Diet Quality and Academic Performance. Journal of School Health, 78(4), 209-215. doi:10.1111/j.1746-1561.2008.00288.x

Lifelong Effects

Children that are obese can also Children that are obese can also become obese as adults.become obese as adults.

Develop serious health risks (e.g., Develop serious health risks (e.g., heart disease, high blood heart disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes).pressure, and diabetes).

Reference:Reference:SNE (2003). Position of the American Dietetic Association, School Nutrition Association, and Society for Nutrition

Education: Comprehensive School Nutrition Services. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, 35(2), 57-67.

Li, J., & Hooker, N. H. (2010). Childhood Obesity and Schools: Evidence From the National Survey of Children's Health. Journal of School Health, 80(2), 96-103. doi:doi:10.1111/j.1746-1561.2009.00471.x

Change is Good

““Good nutrition is linked to learning Good nutrition is linked to learning readiness and academic readiness and academic achievement, decreased discipline achievement, decreased discipline problems, and decreased emotional problems, and decreased emotional problems.”problems.”

Reference:Reference:SNE (2003). Position of the American Dietetic Association, School Nutrition Association, and Society for Nutrition

Education: Comprehensive School Nutrition Services. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, 35(2), 57-67.

What Can We Do?

Add vegetables and Add vegetables and fruits to every mealfruits to every meal

Juices need to be Juices need to be 100% juice 100% juice

No fried foodsNo fried foods Skim or 1% milk Skim or 1% milk No vending No vending

machinesmachines

No colors, high-No colors, high-fructose corn syrup, fructose corn syrup, artificial sweeteners, artificial sweeteners, preservatives, and preservatives, and trans fat in foods.trans fat in foods.

Remove items with Remove items with low nutrients and low nutrients and high sugar high sugar beverages from beverages from snack bars.snack bars.

Help Prevent Childhood

Overweight and Obesity

References

Briefel, R. R., Crepinsek, M. K., Cabili, C., Wilson, A., & Philip, M.G. (2009). School Food Environments and Practices Affect Dietary Behaviors of US Public School Children. The American Dietetic Association, 109(2), S91- S107. doi:10.1016/j.jada.2008.10.059

Florence, M. D., Asbridge, M., & Veugelers, P. J. (2008). Diet Quality and Academic Performance. Journal of School Health, 78(4), 209-215. doi:10.1111/j.1746-1561.2008.00288.x

Julian, L. (2010). Why School Lunch is "Nasty!". Policy Review, 163, 43-53.

Li, J., & Hooker, N. H. (2010). Childhood Obesity and Schools: Evidence From the National Survey of Children's Health. Journal of School Health, 80(2), 96-103. doi:10.1111/j.1746-1561.2009.00471.x

References

Robinson-Obrien, R., Burgess-Champoux, T., Haines, J., Hannan, P. J., & Neumark-Sztainer, D. (2010). Associations Between School Meals Offered Through the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program and Fruit and Vegetable Intake Among Ethnically Diverse, Low-Income Children. Journal of School Health, 80(10), 487-492. doi:10.1111/j.1746-1561.2010.00532.x

Woodward-Lopez, G., Gosliner, Q., Samuels, S. E., Craypo, L., Kao, J., & Crawford, P. B. (2010). Lessons Learned From Evaluations of California's Statewide School Nutritional Standards. American Journal of Public Health, 100(11), 2137-2145. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2010.193490

SNE (2003). Position of the American Dietetic Association, School Nutrition Association, and Society for Nutrition Education: Comprehensive School Nutrition Services. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, 35(2), 57-67.

Sources for Additional Information

http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5903a2.htm.

http://www.mypyramid.gov/index.html

http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/lunch/