Winning the Weight Battle in Grade School

A new study suggests that school-based intervention can curb development of overweight students in grades 4 through 6.

A new study suggests that school-based intervention can curb development of overweight students in grades 4 through 6.

According to the report, published in the April issue of Pediatrics, in schools where intervention occurred there was a 50% reduction in overweight students. In intervention schools, only 7.5% became overweight after two years, compared with 14.9% in control schools.

Each intervention school removed foods that did not meet criteria based on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines. All beverages were limited to 100% juice (six ounces), water and low-fat milk (eight ounces). Snacks had to contain less than 7 grams total fat, 2 grams saturated fat, 360 milligrams sodium and 15 grams sugar per serving. Before intervention, soda, chips and other snacks that did not fit into these guidelines were sold in vending machines and as a la carte options.

The School Nutrition Policy Initiative, the formal name for the intervention, also included school self-assessment, nutrition education, social marketing and parent outreach. Nutrition was incorporated into the classrooms by using food labels to practice fractions, among other things, to show how food choices and physical activity are tied to personal health.

Excerpt from FoodService Director Magazine's May 15, 2008 article, "Winning the Weight Battle.” Reprinted with permission of Ideal Media, LLC.