Abstract
Background
The purpose of this study was to determine the number and types of different food sales outlets, the types of foods offered for sale in all school food outlets, and the extent of nutrition policy implementation in schools in British Columbia. We also directly measured the number and types of snack foods available for sale in each vending machine at each school.
Methods
Based on a thorough literature review and guided by an expert panel of nutritionists, we developed an instrument to measure the quantity and types of foods offered for sale in vending machines, the types of food for sale in all school food outlets, and the extent of nutrition policy development.
Results
The survey response rate was approximately 70%. Approximately 60% of surveyed schools had a permanent food sales outlet. Snack and beverage vending machines were most common in secondary schools, while tuck shops and food-based fundraisers were more common in elementary schools. While few snack vending machines were present in elementary schools, tuck shops stocked items commonly found in snack machines. Approximately 25% of schools had a formal group responsible for nutrition. These schools were more likely to have nutrition policies in place.
Conclusion
“Junk” foods were widely available in elementary, middle, and secondary schools through a variety of outlets. Although snack machines are virtually absent in elementary schools, tuck shops and school fundraisers sell foods usually found in snack machines, largely cancelling the positive effect of the absence of snack machines in these schools. Schools with a group responsible for nutrition appear to have a positive impact on nutrition policy implementation.
MeSH terms: British Columbia, food, nutrition policy, schools, vending machines
Résumé
Contexte
Cette étude visait à déterminer le nombre et la catégorie des points de vente de denrées alimentaires dans les écoles de la Colombie-Britannique, le type d’aliments vendus en milieu scolaire et la mesure dans laquelle les écoles mettent en oeuvre une politique nutritionnelle. Nous avons aussi directement mesuré le nombre et le genre de collations proposées dans les distributeurs automatiques des écoles.
Méthode
D’après les résultats d’une enquête bibliographique approfondie et les conseils d’un groupe de nutritionnistes, nous avons élaboré un instrument pour mesurer 1) le nombre et le genre d’aliments vendus dans les distributeurs automatiques, 2) le genre d’aliments vendus dans l’ensemble des points de vente de denrées alimentaires en milieu scolaire et 3) la prévalence des politiques nutritionnelles dans les écoles.
Résultats
Nous avons obtenu un taux de réponse d’environ 70 % à notre enquête. Quelque 60 % des écoles sondées avaient un point de vente de denrées alimentaires permanent. Les distributeurs automatiques de collations et de boissons étaient surtout présents dans les écoles secondaires, tandis que les comptoirs à provisions et les campagnes de financement par la vente d’aliments étaient plus courants dans les écoles primaires. Nous avons compté très peu de distributeurs automatiques de collations dans les écoles primaires, mais les comptoirs à provisions y vendaient les articles que l’on trouve communément dans ces machines. Environ le quart des écoles avaient officiellement mandaté un groupe pour s’occuper de nutrition. Ces écoles étaient plus susceptibles d’avoir instauré une politique nutritionnelle.
Conclusion
Au primaire comme au secondaire, la « malbouffe » est très présente dans les divers points de vente de denrées alimentaires dans les écoles. Bien que les distributeurs automatiques soient pratiquement absents des écoles primaires, les comptoirs à provisions et les campagnes de financement par la vente d’aliments proposent tous les produits que l’on trouve en général dans les distributeurs de collations, ce qui annule en grande partie l’effet positif de l’absence de ces machines au primaire. Par ailleurs, les groupes responsables de la nutrition dans les écoles semblent exercer un effet positif sur la mise en oeuvre de politiques nutritionnelles.
Footnotes
Sources of Support: The study was funded by the Province of BC, ActNow BC initiative. Dr. Ostry is funded by scholar awards from the Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research (MSFHR) in British Columbia, Canada. Ms. Rideout is funded through a Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation Scholarship.
References
- 1.Health Canada. Food for Thought: Schools and Nutrition. Ottawa: Health Canada; 1997. [Google Scholar]
- 2.Kleinman RE, Hall S, Green H, Korzec-Ramirez D, Patton K, Pagano M, et al. Diet, breakfast and academic performance in children. Annal of Nutrition and Metabolism. 2002;46(Suppl.1):24–30. doi: 10.1159/000066399. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 3.Kleinman RE, Murphy JM, Little M, Pagano M, Wehler CA, Regal K, et al. Hunger in children in the United States: Potential behavioural and emotional correlates. Pediatrics. 1998;101(1):E3. doi: 10.1542/peds.101.1.e3. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 4.Wechsler H, Brener ND, Kuester S, Miller C. Food service and foods and beverages available at school: Results from the School Health Policies and Programs Study. J School Health. 2001;71(7):313. doi: 10.1111/j.1746-1561.2001.tb03509.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 5.CDC. School Health Policies and Programs Study Foodservice State Questionnaire. Atlanta: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; 2000. [Google Scholar]
- 6.CDC. School Health Policies and Programs Study Foodservice District Questionnaire. Atlanta: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; 2000. [Google Scholar]
- 7.CDC. School Health Policies and Programs Study Foodservice School Questionnaire. Atlanta: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; 2000. [Google Scholar]
- 8.CDC. School Health Index. A Self-Assessment and Planning Guide. Atlanta: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; 2005. [Google Scholar]
- 9.Currie C, Samdal O, Boyce W, Smith R. Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children: A WHO Cross-National Survey (HBSC), Research Protocol for the 1997/98 Survey. Edinburgh: Research Unit in Health and Behavioural Change, University of Edinburgh; 1998. [Google Scholar]
- 10.Wold B, Aaro LE, Smith C. Research Protocol for the 1993–94. Survey. Bergen, Norway: University of Bergen; 1993. Health Behaviour in School-aged Children: A WHO Cross-National Study. [Google Scholar]
- 11.Ministry of Education. Schools Book. Victoria: BC Ministry of Education; 2004. [Google Scholar]
- 12.Office of the Premier. News Release: Province Launches Plan to Help Students Get Healthier. Victoria: BC Office of the Premier; 2004. [Google Scholar]
- 13.Office of the Premier. Backgrounder: Comprehensive Plan to Promote Student Health. Victoria: BC Office of the Premier; 2004. [Google Scholar]
- 14.Phillips S, Jacobs Starkey L, Gray-Donald K. Food habits of Canadians: Food sources of nutrients for the adolescent sample. Can J Dietet Pract Res. 2004;65(2):81–84. doi: 10.3148/65.2.2004.81. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 15.Jacobs Starkey L, Johnson-Down L, Gray-Donald K. Food habits of Canadians: Comparison of intakes in adults and adolescents to Canada’s Food Guide to Healthy Eating. Can J Dietet Pract Res. 2001;62(3):61–69. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 16.Weber Cullen K, Zakeri I. Fruits, vegetables, milk, and sweetened beverages consumption and access to à la carte/snack bar meals at school. Am J Public Health. 2004;94(3):463–67. doi: 10.2105/AJPH.94.3.463. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 17.Bauer KW, Yang YW, Austin SB. “How can we stay healthy when you’re throwing all of this in front of us?” Findings from focus groups and interviews in middle schools on environmental influences on nutrition and physical activity. Health Educ Behav. 2004;31(1):34–46. doi: 10.1177/1090198103255372. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 18.French SA. Pricing effects on food choices. J Nutr. 2003;133(3):841S–843S. doi: 10.1093/jn/133.3.841S. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 19.Veuglers PJ, Fitzgerald AL. Effectiveness of school programs in preventing childhood obesity: A multilevel comparison. Am J Public Health. 2005;95(3):432–35. doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2004.045898. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 20.Veuglers PJ, Fitzgerald AL. Prevalence of and risk factors for childhood overweight and obesity. CMAJ. 2005;176(6):607–13. doi: 10.1503/cmaj.050445. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]