Evaluation of a Comprehensive School Nutrition Enrichment Intervention (CSNEI) in Rural School Districts

Evaluation of a Comprehensive School Nutrition Enrichment Intervention (CSNEI) in Rural School Districts

Evaluation of a Comprehensive School Nutrition Enrichment Intervention (CSNEI) in Rural School Districts

Obesity is a significant cause of cancer and cardiovascular disease incidence and mortality, and diabetes incidence among rural communities. Arkansas has the sixth-highest proportion of rural population (~41%),and has the third-highest obesity prevalence (37.4%) in the nation. Arkansas has the third-highest prevalence of obesity for high school students (22.1%) and the fifth-highest prevalence for children ages 10-17 (20.2%). In Arkansas, children in rural areas have very high rates of both food insecurity (26%) and free and reduced lunch eligibility (72.9%). In the study's 6 participating school districts, free and reduced lunch eligibility ranges from 51.4% to 79.3%. School meals are an important opportunity to influence students' nutritional intake and long-term food preferences, which can reduce obesity. A multidisciplinary team has partnered with 6 rural Arkansas school districts which have agreed to participate in a study to evaluate the effects of an evidence-based population-level policy intervention designed to improve the nutritional quality of food served in schools. The study team will conduct a matched-pairs cluster-randomized trial with pre-test and repeated post-tests in 6 rural Arkansas school districts, 3 implementing CSNEI, and 3 matched comparison school districts following their existing nutritional practices. Baseline data collection will take place prior to implementation (Year 1), and follow-up data will be collected annually thereafter (Years 2-5). The study will compare individual-level change in relative body mass index (adjusted for age and sex) and district-level changes in the nutritional quality of food served, amount of food consumed per diner, and fruit and vegetable intake in school districts implementing the intervention compared to matched comparison districts.

Schools randomized to receive the CSNEI intervention arm will receive help in addressing childhood obesity by modifying meal/menu items, changing school cafeteria environments, and making changes to purchasing and procurement practices.

CSNEI is a policy intervention designed to address childhood obesity by modifying lunch and breakfast meal/menu items, changing the school cafeteria environments, and making changes to purchasing and procurement practices.

Student BMI data will be provided by the Arkansas School BMI Database. Changes in BMI z-score will be assessed from baseline to each follow-up time point.

Inclusion Criteria: - Student currently enrolled at one of the 6 rural public school districts Exclusion Criteria: - N/A