Abstract
The objective of this study was to examine relations between state-level school policies and childhood obesity for youth ages
10–17 years. Secondary analysis of the 2003–2006 School Nutrition Environment State Policy Classification System, 2003–2007
Physical Education Related State Policy Classification System, and 2003 and 2007 National Surveys of Children’s Health was
performed. Eleven nutrition and 5 physical education (PE) domains were examined for elementary (ES), middle (MS), and high
school (HS) children. Logistic regression models examined the association of policies on obesity prevalence in 2007 as well
as change scores for the policy assessments. Scores for 5 of 11 nutrition domains and 4 of 5 PE domains increased between
2003 and 2006–2007. Controlling for individual, family and neighborhood factors, nutrition policies were positively associated
with the odds of 2007 obesity in 3 ES and 2 MS domains and negatively associated with 1 HS domain. Adjusted positive associations
also were observed between 2 ES and 1 MS PE policy domains and 2007 obesity. Controlling for covariates, nutrition policy
change scores showed positive associations between increases in 1 ES and 1MS domain, and negative associations with 1 ES and
1 HS domain and 2007 obesity. PE policy change scores showed positive adjusted associations between increases in 2 ES, 2 MS
and 1 HS domains and 2007 obesity. The findings indicate that state-level school health policies are associated with childhood
obesity after adjusting for related factors, suggesting that states with higher obesity levels have responded with greater
institution of policies.
10–17 years. Secondary analysis of the 2003–2006 School Nutrition Environment State Policy Classification System, 2003–2007
Physical Education Related State Policy Classification System, and 2003 and 2007 National Surveys of Children’s Health was
performed. Eleven nutrition and 5 physical education (PE) domains were examined for elementary (ES), middle (MS), and high
school (HS) children. Logistic regression models examined the association of policies on obesity prevalence in 2007 as well
as change scores for the policy assessments. Scores for 5 of 11 nutrition domains and 4 of 5 PE domains increased between
2003 and 2006–2007. Controlling for individual, family and neighborhood factors, nutrition policies were positively associated
with the odds of 2007 obesity in 3 ES and 2 MS domains and negatively associated with 1 HS domain. Adjusted positive associations
also were observed between 2 ES and 1 MS PE policy domains and 2007 obesity. Controlling for covariates, nutrition policy
change scores showed positive associations between increases in 1 ES and 1MS domain, and negative associations with 1 ES and
1 HS domain and 2007 obesity. PE policy change scores showed positive adjusted associations between increases in 2 ES, 2 MS
and 1 HS domains and 2007 obesity. The findings indicate that state-level school health policies are associated with childhood
obesity after adjusting for related factors, suggesting that states with higher obesity levels have responded with greater
institution of policies.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Pages 1-8
- DOI 10.1007/s10995-012-1000-4
- Authors
- Jenna Riis, Department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N Wolfe St, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
- Holly Grason, Department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N Wolfe St, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
- Donna Strobino, Department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N Wolfe St, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
- Saifuddin Ahmed, Department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N Wolfe St, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
- Cynthia Minkovitz, Department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N Wolfe St, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
- Journal Maternal and Child Health Journal
- Online ISSN 1573-6628
- Print ISSN 1092-7875