Eating School Lunch Is Associated with Higher Diet Quality among Elementary School Students

Au, Lauren E.; Rosen, Nila J.; Fenton, Keenan; Hecht, Kenneth; Ritchie, Lorrene D.

doi:10.1016/j.jand.2016.04.010

Cited by 73 publications

(68 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…Mean School-HEI score for Canadian children was 53 points out of a possible maximum score of 100 points. Similar to previous United States studies characterizing the quality of foods consumed in the school context (Cullen et al 2011;Au et al 2016), the lowest School-HEI subscores (for all age groups) were for green and orange vegetables, whole fruit, whole grains, and milk products. Hence, Canadian school-based nutrition policies and program should focus on improving access to and affordability of healthy food choices (particularly vegetables, whole fruit, whole grains, and milk products) in Canadian schools.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 81%

Examining school-day dietary intakes among Canadian children

Tugault-Lafleur

Black

Barr

2017

Appl. Physiol. Nutr. Metab.

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Understanding how dietary intakes vary over the course of the school day can help inform targeted school-based interventions, but little is known about the distribution or determinants of school-day dietary intakes in Canada. This study examined differences between school-hour and non-school-hour dietary intakes and assessed demographic and socioeconomic correlates of school-hour diet quality among Canadian children. Nationally representative data from the Canadian Community Health Survey were analyzed using 24-h dietary recalls falling on school days in 2004 (n = 4827). Differences in nutrient and food-group densities during and outside of school hours and differences in School Heathy Eating Index (School-HEI) scores across sociodemographic characteristics were examined using survey-weighted, linear regression models. Children reported consuming, on average, 746 kcal during school hours (one-third of their daily energy intakes). Vitamins A, D, B 12 , calcium, and dairy products densities were at least 20% lower during school hours compared with non-school hours. Differences in School-HEI scores were poorly explained by sociodemographic factors, although age and province of residence emerged as significant correlates. The school context provides an important opportunity to promote healthy eating, particularly among adolescents who have the poorest school-hour dietary practices. The nutritional profile of foods consumed at school could be potentially improved with increased intake of dairy products, thereby increasing intakes of protein, vitamin A, vitamin D, calcium, and magnesium.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 81%

Examining school-day dietary intakes among Canadian children

Tugault-Lafleur

Black

Barr

2017

Appl. Physiol. Nutr. Metab.

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“…Baranowksi et al (1997) reported children ( N = 2984) had lower consumption of fruits and vegetables (FV) on weekend days compared to weekdays, with lunch time during weekdays identified as the eating occasion when children consumed the most FV [175]. This particular finding was supported by a more recent study that identified eating lunch from school was associated with higher overall diet quality compared with eating lunches from home [176]. Other studies have extended upon these findings and reported fewer FV were consumed on weekend days compared to weekdays, with children ( N = 81; age range = 6-9 yrs.)…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Understanding differences between summer vs. school obesogenic behaviors of children: the structured days hypothesis

Brazendale

Beets

Weaver

et al. 2017

Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act

559

463

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BackgroundAlthough the scientific community has acknowledged modest improvements can be made to weight status and obesogenic behaviors (i.e., physical activity, sedentary/screen time, diet, and sleep) during the school year, studies suggests improvements are erased as elementary-age children are released to summer vacation. Emerging evidence shows children return to school after summer vacation displaying accelerated weight gain compared to the weight gained occurring during the school year. Understanding how summer days differ from when children are in school is, therefore, essential.DiscussionThere is limited evidence on the etiology of accelerated weight gain during summer, with few studies comparing obesogenic behaviors on the same children during school and summer. For many children, summer days may be analogous to weekend days throughout the school year. Weekend days are often limited in consistent and formal structure, and thus differ from school days where segmented, pre-planned, restrictive, and compulsory components exist that shape obesogenic behaviors. The authors hypothesize that obesogenic behaviors are beneficially regulated when children are exposed to a structured day (i.e., school weekday) compared to what commonly occurs during summer. This is referred to as the ‘Structured Days Hypothesis’ (SDH). To illustrate how the SDH operates, this study examines empirical data that compares weekend day (less-structured) versus weekday (structured) obesogenic behaviors in U.S. elementary school-aged children. From 190 studies, 155 (~80%) demonstrate elementary-aged children’s obesogenic behaviors are more unfavorable during weekend days compared to weekdays.ConclusionIn light of the SDH, consistent evidence demonstrates the structured environment of weekdays may help to protect children by regulating obesogenic behaviors, most likely through compulsory physical activity opportunities, restricting caloric intake, reducing screen time occasions, and regulating sleep schedules. Summer is emerging as the critical period where childhood obesity prevention efforts need to be focused. The SDH can help researchers understand the drivers of obesogenic behaviors during summer and lead to innovative intervention development.

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“…Reported frequency of fruit consumption was also greater during summer, along with the remaining food/beverage categories that did not reach statistical significance. It could be the case children are consuming more of everything during summer, with meal assistance programs in schools controlling daily caloric intake by regulating what, when, and how much is served . During summer children may be allowed more freedoms and opportunities to snack unsupervised on foods with low nutritional quality and it is plausible that an energy imbalance (ie, caloric intake > caloric expenditure) is occurring at a greater magnitude during summer compared to school.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Children's Obesogenic Behaviors During Summer Versus School: A Within‐Person Comparison

Brazendale

Beets

Turner‐McGrievy

et al. 2018

Journal of School Health

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BACKGROUND: Evidence consistently shows children in the United States gain 3 to 5 times more weight during summer vacation (∼2.5 months) compared to the 9-month school year. The purpose of this study is to examine within-child differences in 4 obesogenic behaviors (physical activity [PA], sedentary/screen-time, diet, and sleep) during school versus summer. METHODS:We used a repeated-measures within-subjects design. Children (N = 30 mean age = 8.2 years; 57% female; 37% overweight/obese; 100% African American) wore accelerometers on the nondominant wrist for 24 hr/d over 9 consecutive days during school and summer of 2016 to capture PA, sedentary time, and sleep. Parents completed a daily diary to report bed/wake times, diet, and screen-time of their child each day. Mixed-effect models compared summer and school behaviors. RESULTS:Children spent more time sedentary (69% vs 67% of wake wear time), less time in light PA (25% vs 23% of wake wear time), had higher screen-time (242 vs 123 minutes/day), slept longer (428 vs 413 minutes/night), and consumed more sugar-based foods (6 days vs 2.5 days/week) and fruit (7 days vs 4.7 days/week) during summer compared to school (p < .05). CONCLUSION:Initial evidence suggests children are displaying multiple unfavorable obesogenic behaviors during summer compared to school that may contribute to accelerated weight gain during summer.

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Eating School Lunch Is Associated with Higher Diet Quality among Elementary School Students

Cited by 73 publications

References 23 publications

Examining school-day dietary intakes among Canadian children

Examining school-day dietary intakes among Canadian children

Understanding differences between summer vs. school obesogenic behaviors of children: the structured days hypothesis

Children's Obesogenic Behaviors During Summer Versus School: A Within‐Person Comparison

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