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CDC Study Demonstrates Improvement in Nutrition and Physical Education Policies

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Results from a multi-year nationwide study conducted by the Center for Disease Control demonstrated improvement in state, district, school, and classroom levels in policies related to nutrition and activity.

The School Health Policies and Practices Study (SHPPS) report presented findings from the national survey, conducted in 2012. Among the findings were that School districts nationwide are showing improvements in measures related to nutritional policies, physical education (and tobacco policies.)

Among the findings were:

The percentage of school districts that allowed soft drink companies to advertise soft drinks on school grounds decreased from 46.6 percent in 2006 to 33.5 percent in 2012.

Between 2006 and 2012, the percentage of districts that required schools to prohibit offering junk food in vending machines increased from 29.8 percent to 43.4 percent.

Between 2006 and 2012, the percentage of districts with food procurement contracts that addressed nutritional standards for foods that can be purchased separately from the school breakfast or lunch increased from 55.1 percent to 73.5 percent.

Between 2000 and 2012, the percentage of districts that made information available to families on the nutrition and caloric content of foods available to students increased from 35.3 percent to 52.7 percent.

The percentage of school districts that required elementary schools to teach physical education increased from 82.6 percent in 2000 to 93.6 percent in 2012.

More than half of school districts (61.6 percent) had a formal agreement, such as a memorandum of agreement or understanding, between the school district and another public or private entity for shared use of school or community property. Among those districts, more than half had agreements with a local youth organization (e.g., the YMCA, Boys or Girls Clubs, or the Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts) or a local parks or recreation department.

“Schools play a critical role in the health and well-being of our youth,” said CDC Director Tom Frieden, M.D., M.P.H. in a related release. “Good news for students and parents – more students have access to healthy food, better physical fitness activities through initiatives such as ‘Let’s Move,’ and campuses that are completely tobacco free.”

Read the report here.

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