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Secondary school implementation of a healthy eating policy
Author(s) -
Reilly Kathryn,
Yoong Sze Lin,
Sutherland Rachel,
Wiggers John H.,
Delaney Tessa,
Reynolds Renee C.,
Wrigley Jessica,
Wolfenden Luke
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
health promotion journal of australia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.515
H-Index - 32
eISSN - 2201-1617
pISSN - 1036-1073
DOI - 10.1002/hpja.310
Subject(s) - government (linguistics) , audit , public health , medicine , environmental health , inclusion (mineral) , healthy eating , medical education , business , psychology , nursing , physical activity , physical medicine and rehabilitation , social psychology , philosophy , linguistics , accounting
Issue addressed Healthy canteen policies regulating the sales of food and beverages are available across all the states and territories in Australia. The aim of this study was to assess the compliance with a newly updated healthy school canteen policy in New South Wales (NSW) among a sample of secondary schools. Methods A cross‐sectional study of secondary school canteen menus was undertaken in selected regions across NSW (September 2017‐November 2017). Government and Catholic secondary schools with a canteen menu publicly available on school websites were eligible for inclusion. Menus were classified according to the NSW Healthy School Canteen Strategy using a Quick Menu Audit tool, previously validated in primary schools. Results Of 62 Catholic and 128 Government secondary schools located in the study region, 53 secondary schools (25 Catholic and 28 Government) were eligible to participate. The average percentage of “everyday” (healthy) items on secondary school menus was 54% (strategy criteria is >75%). Twenty‐eight per cent of menus had no “sugary drinks” (should not be sold). None of the 53 menus assessed met all strategy criteria regarding the availability of foods and beverages. There was no statistically significant difference in meeting; (a) 75% minimum “everyday” items and (b) no “sugary drinks,” by socio‐economic region, remoteness, school enrolments or school type. Conclusions If public health benefits of healthy eating policies are to be realised, secondary schools need to be supported to implement such policies. So what? Future research assessing the impact of intervention strategies to support policy implementation in secondary schools is recommended.