Effect of Restricting Sweetened Carbonated Beverages and Promoting Vegetable Consumption in Public Schools on Caloric Intake and Obesity Rate Among Students

Abstract

Consumption of high-caloric sugar-sweetened beverages can promote childhood obesity and limit consumption of healthy foods. The Texas Public School Nutrition Policy is a mandate promoting healthy school environments by prohibiting sales of sweetened beverages and restricting portion sizes of high-fat foods. This study examined the possible effects of applying the Texas Public School Nutrition Policy in Saudi Arabian schools on students caloric intake and obesity rates. The average weekly sweetened carbonated beverage, caloric, and vegetable consumption of 162,147 Saudi public school students were determined based on the literature. Thereafter, according to prior pre-/post-studies, the effect of the Texas Public School Nutrition Policy on students food selection was estimated. This study found that the policy would decrease students consumption of sweetened carbonated beverages during school days from 5.3 to 3.9 servings/week, increase vegetable intake from 4.25 to 4.7 servings/week, and decrease total average caloric intake from 1,871 to 1,792 kcal/week. Although the reduction in caloric consumption is small (79 kcal/week/student), this policy can be a general strategy for increasing physical activity, improving nutrition, and managing obesity and overweight among Saudi students.