Obesity: Multicomponent Interventions to Increase Availability of Healthier Foods and Beverages in Schools
CDC
An Evidence-Based Practice
Description
These interventions aim to provide healthier foods and beverages in schools that will be consumed by students, limit access to less healthy foods and beverages, or both.
Multicomponent interventions must include one component from each of the following:
-Meal or fruit and vegetable snack interventions to increase healthier foods and beverages provided by schools
-Interventions supporting healthier snack food and beverages sold or offered as a reward in schools.
Interventions may also include one or more of the following.
-Placing healthier foods and beverages where they are easy for students to select
-Pricing healthier foods and beverages at a lower cost
-Setting up attractive displays of fruits and vegetables
-Offering taste tests of new menu items
-Posting signs or verbal prompts to promote healthier foods and beverages and new menu items
-Healthy eating learning opportunities, such as nutrition education and other strategies that give children knowledge and skills to choose and consume healthier foods and beverages.
Multicomponent interventions must include one component from each of the following:
-Meal or fruit and vegetable snack interventions to increase healthier foods and beverages provided by schools
-Interventions supporting healthier snack food and beverages sold or offered as a reward in schools.
Interventions may also include one or more of the following.
-Placing healthier foods and beverages where they are easy for students to select
-Pricing healthier foods and beverages at a lower cost
-Setting up attractive displays of fruits and vegetables
-Offering taste tests of new menu items
-Posting signs or verbal prompts to promote healthier foods and beverages and new menu items
-Healthy eating learning opportunities, such as nutrition education and other strategies that give children knowledge and skills to choose and consume healthier foods and beverages.
Impact
The Community Preventive Services Task Force (CPSTF) recommends multicomponent interventions to increase availability of healthier foods and beverages in schools. This finding is based on evidence that they reduce or maintain the rate of obesity or overweight.
Results / Accomplishments
Weight-related Outcomes:
-The prevalence of overweight/obesity: stopped increasing (5 studies)
-BMIz score: no change (1 study)
Diet Outcomes:
-Energy intake: mixed findings (3 studies)
-Sugar-sweetened beverage intake favorable findings: (2 of 3 studies)
-Fruit and vegetable: intake increases (3 of 4 studies)
-Milk/dairy alternative intake: significant increases
-The prevalence of overweight/obesity: stopped increasing (5 studies)
-BMIz score: no change (1 study)
Diet Outcomes:
-Energy intake: mixed findings (3 studies)
-Sugar-sweetened beverage intake favorable findings: (2 of 3 studies)
-Fruit and vegetable: intake increases (3 of 4 studies)
-Milk/dairy alternative intake: significant increases
About this Promising Practice
Primary Contact
The Community Guide
1600 Clifton Rd, NE
MS H21-8
Atlanta, GA 30329
(404) 498-1827
communityguide@cdc.gov
https://www.thecommunityguide.org/
1600 Clifton Rd, NE
MS H21-8
Atlanta, GA 30329
(404) 498-1827
communityguide@cdc.gov
https://www.thecommunityguide.org/
Topics
Health / Weight Status
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