Implementation of Local Wellness Policies in Pennsylvania School Districts: Student Involvement and Process Factors Associated with Positive Changes in the School Wellness Environment

Open Access
- Author:
- Jomaa, Lamis Hassan
- Graduate Program:
- Nutrition
- Degree:
- Doctor of Philosophy
- Document Type:
- Dissertation
- Date of Defense:
- June 23, 2010
- Committee Members:
- Claudia Probart, Committee Chair/Co-Chair
Terryl Hartman, Committee Member
Katarzyna Kordas, Committee Member
Leif Jensen, Committee Member - Keywords:
- student involvement
schools
Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 200
local wellness policies
childhood obesity
nutrition education
physical activity
competitive foods and beverages - Abstract:
- Childhood obesity is an epidemic in the United States. Numerous health and nutrition policies at the national and state levels have been developed and adopted by various sectors to address this problem. Schools represent one of the primary settings targeted by federal and state policies to prevent and reverse childhood obesity. The Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004 is the most recent federal mandate that required schools sponsoring school meal programs across the country to develop local wellness policies (LWPs) in order to address this serious problem. The purpose of this study is to assess the progress of Pennsylvania public schools in implementing their local wellness policies, mainly the implementation of student involvement goals and changes in nutrition education, physical activity, and the competitive food environment after the establishment of wellness policies. A web-based survey was developed, pilot-tested, and administered to all Pennsylvania public school districts that developed LWPs at the beginning of the 2006/2007 school year. The 39-item survey included 9 components to assess process areas that were developed and followed by school districts to implement their LWPs and the progress of schools in implementing wellness policy goals. Pennsylvania school districts met the main requirements of the wellness policy mandate; however schools varied in implementing their policy goals and in enforcing and measuring these policies. Pennsylvania school districts are involving students in wellness-related areas in a variety of ways. In our study, student involvement was associated with positive changes in nutrition education and physical activity opportunities. In addition, student involvement was associated with healthier foods and beverages sold and offered in competitive food venues. Two clusters of school districts in Pennsylvania were identified based on processes that schools have followed in implementing LWPs. Student involvement, receiving external funding, and measurement of LWP implementation are among the processes identified in our study that distinguish between school districts in Pennsylvania. No demographic differences were observed between the two clusters. However, clusters differed on steps taken to plan the implementation of policy goals, the allocation of internal funds, and the existence of ongoing wellness committees and the frequency of their meetings. School districts that were more process-committed reported more positive changes in nutrition education, physical activity, and much healthier changes in competitive foods and beverages compared to less process-committed SDs. In conclusion, our findings highlight some of the main processes that distinguish school districts and can contribute to positive changes taking place in schools with the implementation of LWPs. These processes include involving students in the implementation of policy goals, mobilizing internal and external funds to support LWP-related activities, adopting an organized systematic approach in planning for the implementation of policy goals, and measuring school progress in implementation. Findings from our study have a number of implications for policy makers, nutrition professionals, researchers, and local school authorities involved in preventing childhood obesity through school nutrition and wellness policies. These implications may serve as good recommendations for future re-authorizations of the Child Nutrition Programs and the local wellness policy mandate.