Date Available

12-7-2011

Year of Publication

2009

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Document Type

Thesis

College

Agriculture

Department

Hospitality and Dietetic Administration

First Advisor

Dr. Janet Tietyen

Abstract

With the passage of the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004, all schools that participate in the National School Lunch Program are required to establish local wellness policies to address childhood obesity. In the state of Kentucky, Senate Bill 172 requires all elementary schools to adopt a local wellness policy addressing competitive foods, healthy choices, and daily physical activity. This study measured federal and state compliance among schools that responded to the 2008 Kentucky School Nutrition Survey. This study analyzed differences in the school nutrition environment among policies based on data from the 2002 and 2008 Kentucky School Nutrition surveys. The majority of school wellness policies were compliant with both federal and state guidelines. Significant differences in the school environment include a reduction in the availability of vending machines, decreased percentage of teachers using food as a reward, and increased use by teachers of non food items as a reward. Significant differences were not found among foods offered in vending machines, snack bars, and classroom parties. In 2008, elementary schools provided an average of 174 minutes of physical activity weekly, which is above the recommended guideline of 150 minutes per week.

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