Competitive Food Policy and Food Behavior and Health Metrics in K-12 Students: A Scoping Review

Area of Science:

• Nutrition Science
• Public Health Policy
• Childhood Health Interventions

Background:

• School meals are crucial, supplying approximately half of children's daily caloric intake.
• School food policies are designed to positively influence the school food environment and improve student health outcomes.
• Recent synthesis of the impact of these policies, particularly after the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, is limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize current evidence on the health impacts of school food policies, focusing on competitive food policies.
• To establish baseline evidence for the effectiveness of school food policies in promoting population health.
• To identify areas for future research in school nutrition policy.

Main Methods:

• A systematic literature review was conducted.
• Searches were performed across major databases: PubMed, EMBASE, ERIC, and Cochrane.
• Twenty-eight studies evaluating school food policies' effects on student health were identified and analyzed.

Main Results:

• The majority of studies (23 out of 28) reported positive health effects associated with competitive food policies.
• Five studies indicated mixed positive and neutral health effects.
• No studies documented negative health impacts resulting from these policies.

Conclusions:

• Competitive food policies represent an effective and equitable approach to improving child health.
• School nurses can play a supportive role in the implementation and success of these policies.
• Further research is warranted to fully understand the scope and long-term benefits of school food policies.