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Objectives. We assessed the statewide impact of the 2004 Texas Public School Nutrition Policy on foods and beverages served or sold in schools. Methods. We collected lunch food production records from 47 schools in 11 Texas school districts for the school years before (2003-2004) and after (2004-2005) policy implementation. Cafeteria servings of fruit, vegetables (regular and fried), and milk served each day were calculated. Twenty-three schools from 5 districts provided records of a la carte sales of candy, chips, desserts, drinks, ice cream, and water. We examined aggregated school-level differences in total items served or sold per day per student between study years. Results. School demographics were similar to state data. Regardless of district and school size, cafeterias served significantly fewer high-fat vegetable items per student postpolicy (P Conclusions. School food policy changes have improved foods served or sold to students. It is not known whether improved lunch choices influence consumption for the whole day. (doi:10.2105/AJPH.2007.129387)

To link to full-text access for this article, visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jada.2007.10.005 Byline: Jill Hartstein, Karen W. Cullen, Kim D. Reynolds, Joanne Harrell, Ken Resnicow, Phyllis Kennel Abstract: We assessed the impact of a pilot middle school a la carte intervention on food and beverage purchases, kilocalories, fat, carbohydrate, and protein sold per student, and nutrient density of the foods sold. A la carte sales were obtained from six middle schools in three states for 1 baseline week and daily during the 6-week intervention. Intervention goals included reducing sizes of sweetened beverages and chips, and increasing the availability of water and reduced-fat/baked chips. Nutrients sold per day were computed and weekly nutrient means per student and per number of items sold were calculated and compared between baseline and week 6. Five schools achieved all goals at 6 weeks. Four schools showed increases in the percentage of kilocalories from protein and decreases in the amount of sweetened beverages sold; five showed substantial increases in water sales. Changes in regular chips varied by school. There were significant changes in energy density of foods sold. School foodservice changes in middle school snack bar/a la carte lines can be implemented and can lead to a reduction in the caloric density of foods purchased.

We assessed the impact of a pilot middle school a la carte intervention on food and beverage purchases, kilocalories, fat, carbohydrate, and protein sold per student, and nutrient density of the foods sold. A la carte sales were obtained from six middle schools in three states for 1 baseline week and daily during the 6-week intervention. Intervention goals included reducing sizes of sweetened beverages and chips, and increasing the availability of water and reduced-fat/baked chips. Nutrients sold per day were computed and weekly nutrient means per student and per number of items sold were calculated and compared between baseline and week 6. Five schools achieved all goals at 6 weeks. Four schools showed increases in the percentage of kilocalories from protein and decreases in the amount of sweetened beverages sold; five showed substantial increases in water sales. Changes in regular chips varied by school. There were significant changes in energy density of foods sold. School foodservice changes in middle school snack bar/a la carte lines can be implemented and can lead to a reduction in the caloric density of foods purchased.

Our objective for this study was to examine the feasibility of instituting environmental changes during a 6-week pilot in school foodservice programs, with long-term goals of improving dietary quality and preventing obesity and type 2 diabetes in youth. Participants included students and staff from six middle schools in three states. Formative assessment with students and school staff was conducted in the spring of 2003 to inform the development of school foodservice policy changes. Thirteen potential policy goals were delineated. These formed the basis for the environmental change pilot intervention implemented during the winter/spring of 2004. Questionnaires were used to assess the extent to which the 13 foodservice goals were achieved. Success was defined as achieving 75% of goals not met at baseline. Daily data were collected on goal achievement using the schools' daily food production and sales records. Qualitative data were also collected after the pilot study to obtain feedback from students and staff. Formative research with staff and students identified potential environmental changes. Most schools made substantial changes in the National School Lunch Program meal and snack bar/a la carte offerings. Vending goals were least likely to be achieved. Only one school did not meet the 75% goal achievement objective. Based on the objective data as well as qualitative feedback from student focus groups and interviews with students and school staff, healthful school foodservice changes in the cafeteria and snack bar can be implemented and were acceptable to the staff and students. Implementing longer-term and more ambitious changes and assessing cost issues and the potential enduring impact of these changes on student dietary change and disease risk reduction merits investigation.

Objective: To understand diet, physical activity, and inactivity influences among preadolescent African American girls at risk of becoming obese. Design: Interviews and group qualitative discussions (ie, mixed qualitative research method) were conducted separately with 8- to 10-year-old African American girls and their parents. Setting: Greater Houston, Texas. Participants: Eight- to 10-year-old African American girls above the 50th percentile body mass index with a home computer (n = 82) and a parent (n = 74). Variables Measured: Influences on dietary practices and physical activity/inactivity among preadolescent African American girls. Analysis: Discussions were audiotaped, manually recorded, transcribed, and coded. The primary coder analyzed the transcribed notes. The secondary coder reviewed and critiqued the initial coding. Results: Parents and girls were concerned about overweight and viewed physical activity as a weight control practice. Mothers facilitated daughters' physical activity, while fathers and siblings were coparticipants. Girls had access to physical activity equipment and facilities. Snack food items and carbonated beverages were often limited by the parents, and water consumption was encouraged. Discrepancies were apparent between girls' and parents' responses. Conclusions and Implications: Parental convenience and girls' food preferences influenced dietary intake. Obesity prevention programs should capitalize on parental motivation for their child's health and provide practical strategies to facilitate healthful eating and physical activity. KEY WORDS: focus groups, children, physical activity, diet, African American, girls, water, family

ABSTRACT Design Six-group design systematically varying sequence of self-report (FIRSSt vs 24hDR), observation of school lunch, and hair sample as a bogus pipeline manipulation, with random assignment of participants. Objectives [...]

Objective To compare diet and physical activity between a group of children aged 4 to 7 years who had increased their sum of 7 skinfolds by 1.5 standard deviations or more since the previous year and those who had not. Subjects/design A longitudinal design was used wherein children had their body composition assessed at 4 annual intervals. Fifteen study subjects were identified from a larger study on the development of cardiovascular risk factors in children. Three matched control subjects were identified for all but 4 study subjects. Children were included if they were 3 or 4 years old at the time of the first of 4 annual clinics to collect data. Children were volunteers from a mid-sized city. Measures Seven skinfold sites were assessed, each 3 times. An average was taken of the mean at each site. Diet and physical activity were assessed using observational methods for up to 4 days for each of 3 years between the 4 annual clinics (held in the summers of 1986, 1987, 1988, and 1989). Results Children consumed significantly (P = .02) more fat grams and suggestively higher percentages of energy from fat (P = .06), total energy (P = .08), and percentage energy from protein (P = .10). No differences were detected for percent energy from carbohydrate, physical activity, or height. Conclusions Programs to prevent childhood obesity might have success by targeting dietary fat consumption among children as young as 4 years old, but further research is needed., Obesity is a growing public health concern among children in the United States (1). Childhood obesity may be influenced by distinct growth periods during early childhood. The first period occurs […]