Introduction
Provincial, national and international public health agencies recognize
the importance of school nutrition policies that help create healthful environments
aligned with healthy eating recommendations for youth. School-wide support for
healthy living within the pillars of the comprehensive school health (CSH) framework
(social and physical environments; teaching and learning; healthy school policy; and
partnerships and services) has been positively associated with fostering improvements
to student health behaviours. This study used the CSH framework to classify, compare
and describe school support for healthy eating during the implementation of the Ontario
School Food and Beverage Policy (P/PM 150).
Methods
We collected data from consenting elementary and secondary schools in a
populous region of Ontario in Time I (2012/13) and Time II (2014). Representatives
from the schools completed the Healthy School Planner survey and a food environmental
scan (FES), which underwent scoring and content analyses. Each school’s support
for healthy eating was classified as either “initiation,” “action” or “maintenance” along
the Healthy School Continuum in both time periods, and as “high/increased,” “moderate”
or “low/decreased” within individual CSH pillars from Time I to Time II.
Results
Twenty-five school representatives (8 elementary, 17 secondary) participated.
Most schools remained in the “action” category (n = 20) across both time periods, with
varying levels of support in the CSH pillars. The physical environment was best supported
(100% high/increased support) and the social environment was the least (68%
low/decreased support). Only two schools achieved the highest rating (maintenance) in
Time II. Supports aligned with P/PM 150 were reportedly influenced by administration
buy-in, stakeholder support and relevancy to local context.
Conclusion
Further assistance is required to sustain comprehensive support for healthy
eating in Ontario school food environments.
Dearborn SHINES: The Impact Of A Comprehensive School Health Intervention