Emory University, Rollins School of Public Health, Department of Behavioral Sciences and Health Education, 1518 Clifton Road NE, Atlanta, GA, 30322.
Emory University, Rollins School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology, Atlanta, GA, 30322.
J Sch Health. 2020 Apr;90(4):278-285. doi: 10.1111/josh.12874. Epub 2020 Jan 29.
A nutritious diet can prevent obesity and chronic disease and improve academic performance, yet many children have energy-dense, nutrient-poor diets. The objective of this study was to assess nutrition policies, practices, and environments in Georgia Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-Ed) elementary schools and compare them across school-level demographic characteristics.
We distributed a cross-sectional online survey to administrators, grade level chairs, and nutrition managers from 113 Georgia SNAP-Ed elementary schools during 2015-2017. Logistic regression, one-way ANOVA, and Tukey's tests were performed to assess differences by free and reduced-price lunch eligibility and percentage black. Fisher's exact and Rao-Scott chi-square tests were performed to assess differences by school size and geography.
The majority of schools established wellness policies and committees, provided nutrition education, and offered fresh fruits and/or vegetables daily. Fewer schools had policies limiting sugar-sweetened foods within classrooms or had established a school garden. There were minimal significant differences in survey responses across school-level demographics.
Georgia SNAP-Ed elementary schools are providing healthy nutrition settings for their students in a number of areas, and can further improve by establishing more comprehensive wellness policies, a committee to enforce them, and engaging children in hands-on nutrition education activities.
营养饮食可以预防肥胖和慢性病，提高学习成绩，但许多儿童的饮食热量高而营养低。本研究旨在评估佐治亚州补充营养援助计划教育（SNAP-Ed）小学的营养政策、实践和环境，并比较其在学校层面人口特征方面的差异。
我们在 2015-2017 年期间向 113 所佐治亚州 SNAP-Ed 小学的管理人员、年级主席和营养经理分发了一份横断面在线调查。采用逻辑回归、单因素方差分析和 Tukey 检验评估免费和降价午餐资格和黑人比例的差异。采用 Fisher 确切检验和 Rao-Scott 卡方检验评估学校规模和地理位置的差异。
大多数学校制定了健康政策和委员会，提供营养教育，并提供每日新鲜水果和/或蔬菜。较少的学校在教室内限制含糖食品或建立学校花园。在学校层面的人口统计学特征方面，调查结果没有显著差异。
佐治亚州 SNAP-Ed 小学在许多方面为学生提供了健康的营养环境，并可以通过制定更全面的健康政策、设立执行这些政策的委员会以及让儿童参与实践营养教育活动来进一步改进。
