Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #120505

Sarah Samuels, Dr PH, Samuels and Asociates, 663 13th Street, Oakland, CA 94612, 510-271-6799, sarah@samuelsandassociates.com

Schools are uniquely situated to reinforce the healthy eating and physical activity behaviors that children need throughout their lives. Yet schools have been challenged to provide healthy food and physical activity environments. Recent studies have shown that schools across the country are relying heavily on sales of unregulated competitive foods,¬ foods sold a la carte, in vending machines, in school stores, or as fundraisers ¬ in order to generate the additional income. In response to this situation, nutrition and physical activity policies are springing up in school districts large and small. Likewise, legislative proposals are being considered at the state and federal levels to address the presence of unhealthy foods and lack of opportunities for physical activity in schools. Policies have been developed and implemented at the state and local levels to restrict certain foods or beverages, set nutrient standards for foods sold outside school meal programs, set state physical education hours requirements, and provide guidance and direction for local school boards. At the local level, school districts have created policies that banned sodas and/or regulated food sales based on nutritional content. Given the growing interest in policy strategies aimed at improving school food and physical activity environments, more needs to be learned about their impact. Evaluation results will provide an understanding of what it takes to change school food and physical activity environments and what types of outcomes can be expected.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participants in this session will be able to

• Understand policies and strategies that may regulate the sale or presence of unhealthy snacks and provide opportunities for physical activity in schools and the impact of such policies;
• Develop and promote strategies to change school food and physical activity environments.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.

Recorded presentation