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Boston Public Schools Snack and Beverage Policy

An Evidence-Based Practice

Description

In 2004, the Boston School Committee implemented the Boston Public Schools Snack and Beverage Policy in an effort to improve nutrition and reduce obesity among youth. The committee specifically targeted sugar-sweetened beverages, as calories from these drinks constitute, on average, 13% of the calorie intake of youth aged 12 to 19 years. The resolution required that schools adhere to the Massachusetts à la carte Food and Beverage Standards to Promote a Healthier School Environment, guidelines published by Massachusetts Action for Healthy Kids. The Boston School Committee thus banned the sale of soft drinks, sports drinks, and fruit drinks that are not 100% fruit or vegetable juice. The committee additionally imposed limitations on the serving sizes of other beverages, requiring schools to serve beverages (other than water or milk) in portions smaller than 12 ounces.

Goal / Mission

To decrease consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages in Boston public schools.

Impact

Data from Boston youth indicated that policy changes restricting the sale of sugar-sweetened beverages in schools can cause significant reductions in consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages and are promising strategies to reduce adolescents’ intake of unnecessary calories.

Results / Accomplishments

To identify the impact of the Boston School Committee's restrictions on sugar-sweetened beverages, researchers performed a linear regression analysis on data from the 2004 and 2006 Boston Youth Surveys of students in grades 9 through 12 in Boston's public high schools. After controlling for sex, grade, race/ethnicity, and primary neighborhood of residence, researchers found a significant decrease (p<0.001) of -0.14 servings in daily consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages between 2004 and 2006. In contrast, the national consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages did not change significantly (p=0.41) between 2003-2004 and 2005-2006 among adolescents aged 15-19 years.

About this Promising Practice

Organization(s)
Boston School Committee
Primary Contact
Angie L. Cradock, ScD
Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences
Harvard School of Public Health
401 Park Drive
Landmark Center, Room 441
Boston, MA 02215
617-432-1135
acradock@hsph.harvard.edu
https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/angie-cradock/
Topics
Health / Physical Activity
Health / Adolescent Health
Organization(s)
Boston School Committee
Source
CDC: Preventing Chronic Disease
Date of publication
Jul 2011
Date of implementation
2004
Geographic Type
Urban
Location
Boston, MA
For more details
http://www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2011/jul/10_0149.htm
https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/prc/2016/03/03/study-...
Target Audience
Children, Teens

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Related Content for: Boston Public Schools Snack and Beverage Policy

An Evidence-Based Practice meets the following HCI criteria:

  1. The program description includes at a minimum: the sponsoring organization, program goals, program implementation steps, and outcomes that have demonstrated program success in achieving the program goal in one or more localities.
  2. The results from an evaluation of the program include quantitative measures showing improvement in the outcome(s) of interest after the implementation of the program (i.e. increase in smoking cessation, not just the delivery of a smoking cessation program). The outcome measure(s) is/are compared at relevant time periods before and after the intervention or program implementation. Alternatively, the evaluation study compares the outcome(s) between an intervention group and an appropriate control group.
  3. The study is of peer-review quality and presents numbers in a scientific manner; measurements of precision and reliability are included (e.g. confidence intervals, standard errors), results from statistical tests show a significant difference or change in the outcome measure(s), and relevant point estimates and p-values are presented. Note: if the results from an evaluation of a program are presented in a scientific manner and the outcome measure is improved compared to the baseline measurement or the control group but the difference is not statistically significant, the practice is classified as effective and not evidence-based.