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School Wellness Committees Are Associated with Lower Body Mass Index Z-Scores and Improved Dietary Intakes in US Children: The Healthy Communities Study
- Source :
-
Journal of School Health . Sep 2018 88(9):627-635. - Publication Year :
- 2018
-
Abstract
- Background: Our objective was to examine the association between school wellness committees and implementation of nutrition wellness policies and children's weight status and obesity-related dietary outcomes. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted of 4790 children aged 4-15 years recruited from 130 communities in the Healthy Communities Study. Multilevel statistical models assessed associations between school wellness policies and anthropometric (body mass index z-score [BMIz]) and nutrition measures, adjusting for child and community-level covariates. Results: Children had lower BMI z-scores (-0.11, 95% confidence interval [CI]: -0.19, -0.03) and ate breakfast more frequently (0.14 days/week, 95% CI: 0.02-0.25) if attending a school with a wellness committee that met once or more in the past year compared to attending a school with a wellness committee that did not meet/did not exist. Children had lower added sugar (p < 0.0001), lower energy-dense foods (p = 0.0004), lower sugar intake from sugar-sweetened beverages (p = 0.0002), and lower dairy consumption (p = 0.001) if attending a school with similar or stronger implementation of the nutrition components of the school wellness policies compared to other schools in the district. Conclusions: A more active wellness committee was associated with lower BMI z-scores in US schoolchildren. Active school engagement in wellness policy implementation appears to play a positive role in efforts to reduce childhood obesity.
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 0022-4391
- Volume :
- 88
- Issue :
- 9
- Database :
- ERIC
- Journal :
- Journal of School Health
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- EJ1187638
- Document Type :
- Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1111/josh.12664