Changes in Body Mass Index Among School-Aged Youths Following Implementation of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010

Abstract

ImportanceThe prevalence of obesity among youths 2 to 19 years of age in the US from 2017 to 2018 was 19.3%; previous studies suggested that school lunch consumption was associated with increased obesity. The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 (HHFKA) strengthened nutritional standards of school-based meals.ObjectiveTo evaluate the association between the HHFKA and youth body mass index (BMI).Design, Setting, and ParticipantsThis cohort study was conducted using data from the Environmental Influences on Child Health Outcomes program, a nationwide consortium of child cohort studies, between January 2005 and March 2020. Cohorts in the US of youths aged 5 to 18 years with reported height and weight measurements were included.ExposuresFull implementation of the HHFKA.Main Outcomes and MeasuresThe main outcome was annual BMI z-score (BMIz) trends before (January 2005 to August 2016) and after (September 2016 to March 2020) implementation of the HHFKA, adjusted for self-reported race, ethnicity, maternal education, and cohort group. An interrupted time-series analysis design was used to fit generalized estimating equation regression models.ResultsA total of 14 121 school-aged youths (7237 [51.3%] male; mean [SD] age at first measurement, 8.8 [3.6] years) contributing 26 205 BMI measurements were included in the study. Overall, a significant decrease was observed in the annual BMIz in the period following implementation of the HHFKA compared with prior to implementation (−0.041; 95% CI, −0.066 to −0.016). In interaction models to evaluate subgroup associations, similar trends were observed among youths 12 to 18 years of age (−0.045; 95% CI, −0.071 to −0.018) and among youths living in households with a lower annual income (−0.038; 95% CI, −0.063 to −0.013).Conclusions and RelevanceIn this cohort study, HHFKA implementation was associated with a significant decrease in BMIz among school-aged youths in the US. The findings suggest that school meal programs represent a key opportunity for interventions to combat the childhood obesity epidemic given the high rates of program participation and the proportion of total calories consumed through school-based meals.

Social, clinical, and policy implications of ultra-processed food addiction

“… 93 In addition, the implementation of healthier nutrition standards in US schools was associated with reductions in body mass index among youth. 94 …”

Opportunities to Promote Food and Nutrition Security as the Federal Public Health Emergency Ends

“…type="uri">serve 1 in 4 individuals in the US annually. The largest are SNAP, WIC, and school meals, which are highly effective at reducing food insecurity, improving health and well-being, and reducing health care costs …”

“…The largest are SNAP, WIC, and school meals, which are highly effective at reducing food insecurity, improving health and well-being, and reducing health care costs. [5][6][7] Upcoming changes to several of these programs will further strengthen their impact. The USDA has proposed rules to better align school meal nutrition standards and the WIC food packages with the latest Dietary Guidelines for Americans.…”

The potential role of social care in reducing childhood obesity

“…Substantial evidence shows that federal nutrition programs including the Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and National School Lunch Program promote food security. Alignment of federal nutrition programs with current nutrition guidelines and integration of such programs into multisector childhood obesity initiatives results in improvements in childhood obesity and its risk factors [46–52]. Thus, removing barriers to enrollment is critical to reducing childhood obesity.…”