HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WHO BRING THEIR LUNCH FROM HOME

ARE MORE LIKELY TO HAVE HEALTHY EATING HABITS

THAN STUDENTS WHO PURCHASE THEIR LUNCH AT SCHOOL
STEPHANI E BELMAR
NUFD 509

Background
Health
Concerns
Common nutritional concerns identified among adolescents include
Low consumption of
fruits and vegetables
whole grains
calcium and low fat dairy foods
High consumption of
sweetened beverages
energy-dense, nutrient poor, processed foods (2)
The prevalence of overweight among teens has tripled between the second and most recent NHANES (4)
The percentage of obese adolescents has increased from 5% in 1980 to 18% in 2010 (5)
Effects of adolescent obesity on health include increased risk for heart disease, type 2 diabetes, stroke, and cancers (5)
Obesity related medical expenditures were estimated at $147 billion in 2008 (3)

Background

School Lunch
The school meal programs
Most of the countrys public schools participate in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) (6)
US Department of Agriculture (USDA) regulates and monitors the nutritional quality
The goal of the NSLP is to provide approximately one third of daily nutrition needs, (6), and to limit fat and saturated
fat to no more than 30% and 10% (7)
School Nutrition Dietary Assessment Study
Lost schools offered and served meals that met the standards for protein, vitamins, and minerals
Fewer than one third of schools met the standards for energy from fat or saturated fat in the average lunch
Average levels of sodium were high and fiber was low (6)
Competitive foods are also available for purchase in public schools(8)
Low in nutrients and energy-dense
Contribute to weight gain in adolescents (9)
Associated with decreased intakes of fruits and vegetables and increased intakes of total fat and saturated fat (10)
Background
Opportunities for Further
Research
Contradictory findings indicate a gap in the research for further investigation
Studies suggest access to unhealthy competitive foods is associated with weight gain vs studies showing no relationship
Some research suggests the NSLP is positively associated with increased BMI and obesity vs research finding no association (3)
Studies found that food from schools had negative effects on the diets of adolescents
Foods consumed at schools were not significantly lower in empty calorie content than fast foods (12)
Identified grain desserts and pizza as top contributors to empty calorie intake
Pre-prepared fast-food-like items, were major sources of saturated fat in school lunches
Further investigation may help to identify effective ways of improving the lunches of high
school students throughout the United States

Methodology

Primary Cross Sectional Study design
(prevalence study)

Target population
High school students
Grades 9 - 12
Ages 14 18

Recruitment
Internet site such as town patches and
moms exchanges


Sample
Subjects who meet the high school grade and
residence criteria

Location
Passaic and Morris counties, NJ

Data collection
Survey Monkey

Sampling method
Convenience Sampling

Methodology
Survey:
Demographics Eating
Habits
Data Analysis
Frequency
Demographics
Age
Weight
Ethnicity
Grade
Eating Habits
o Bring lunch
o Purchase lunch
o Prepare lunch
o Vegetables
o Fruits
o Low fat dairy
o Type of lunch
o Beverage choice


Measures of Central
Tendency & Dispersion
Demographics
Age
Weight
Grade

Eating Habits
o Vegetables
o Fruits
o Low fat dairy




Inferential Statistics
t-test
Independent variables
o Bring lunch
o Purchase lunch
Dependent variables
o Vegetables
o Fruit
o Low fat dairy
o BMI
Chi square
Bring lunch/Purchase lunch
o Beverage choice





Descriptive Statistics
Pilot Study
0
1
2
3
Eat Vegetable
w/Lunch
Eat Fruit w/Lunch Low-Fat Dairy
w/Lunch
Healthy Lunch Choices
Bring Lunch Buy Lunch
0
1
2
3
Underweight
<18.5
Normal weight
18.524.9
Overweight
2529.9
Obese
30 or greater
BMI
Bring Lunch Buy Lunch
Work Cited
1. Sebastian RS, Wilkinson EC, Goldman JD. Research: US adolescents and mypyramid: Associations between fast-food consumption and lower likelihood of meeting recommendations. J
Am Diet Assoc. 2009; 109: 226-235.
2. Larson N, Neumark-Sztainer D. Adolescent nutrition. Pediatr Rev. 2009; 30(12): 494-6.
3. Vericker TC. Research: Childrens school-related food and physical activity behaviors are associated with body mass index. J Acad Nutr Diet. 2013. Available at:
http://download.journals.elsevierhealth.com/pdfs/journals/2212-2672/PIIS2212267213012835.pdf. Accessed on November 21, 2013.
4. Dietz, WH. Overweight in childhood and adolescence. N Engl J Med. 2004; 350: 855857.
5. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Adolescent and School Health. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/obesity/facts.htm. Accessed on November 2, 2013.
6. Crepinsek MK, Gordon AR, McKinney PM, Condon EM, Wilson A. Meals offered and served in US public schools: do they meet nutrient standards?. J Am Diet Assoc. 2009; 109 (2): S31-
S43.
7. Mancino L, Todd JE, Guthrie J, Lin, BH. How food away from home affects childrens diet quality. United States Department of Agriculture. Economic Research Report Number 104. 2010.
Available at: http://www.ers.usda.gov/media/136261/err104_3_.pdf. Accessed on November 20, 2013.
8. Fox, MK, Gordon, A, Nogales R. Wilson A. Research: Availability and consumption of competitive foods in US public schools. J Am Diet Assoc. 2009; 109 (2): S57-S66.
9. Dabbaghian V, Mago VK, Wu T, Fritz C, Alimadad A. Social interactions of eating behaviour among high school students: A cellular automata approach. BMC Med Res Methodol. 2012;
12 (1): 1-12.
10. Kubik MY, Lytle LA, Hannan, PJ, Perry CL, Story M. The association of the school food environment with dietary behaviors of young adolescents. Am J Public Health 2003; 93: 1168
1173.
11. Poti JM, Slining MM, Popkin BM. Research: Where are kids getting their empty calories? Stores, schools, and fast-food restaurants each played an important role in empty calorie intake
among US children during 2009-2010. J Acad Nutr Diet. 2013. Available at: http://download.journals.elsevierhealth.com/pdfs/journals/2212-2672/PIIS2212267213013361.pdf. Accessed
November 21, 2013.