School district wellness policy quality and weight-related outcomes among high school students in Minnesota

Abstract

Weight-related outcomes were examined among high school students in Minnesota public school districts according to the quality of district wellness policies. Wellness policy strength and comprehensiveness were scored using the Wellness School Assessment Tool (WellSAT) for 325 Minnesota public school districts in 2013. The associations between WellSAT scores and district-level means of high school student responses to a statewide survey of health behaviors were examined in this ecologic study. WellSAT Total Strength and Total Comprehensiveness scores were positively associated with both student mean Body Mass Index (BMI) percentile (Strength: P = 0.018, Comprehensiveness: P = 0.031) and mean percent overweight or obese (Strength: P = 0.008, Comprehensiveness: P = 0.026), but only in districts with > 50% of students eligible for Free or Reduced-Price Lunches (FRPLs), or 'high FRPL districts'. WellSAT Physical Education and Physical Activity subscale scores were also positively associated with the mean days per week students engaged in physical activity for ≥ 60 min in high FRPL districts (Strength: P = 0.008, Comprehensiveness: P = 0.003) and in low FRPL districts (< 35% eligible) for Strength score: (P = 0.027). In medium FRPL districts (35-50% eligible), Nutrition Education and Wellness Promotion Strength and Comprehensiveness subscale scores were positively associated with, respectively, daily servings of vegetables (P = 0.037) and fruit (P = 0.027); and WellSAT Total scores were positively associated with daily vegetable servings (Strength: P = 0.037, Comprehensiveness: P = 0.012). Administrators of economically disadvantaged school districts with a higher percentage of overweight students may be recognizing the need for stronger wellness policies and the specific importance of implementing policies pertaining to physical activity as a means to improve student health.

State Agency Support of Weight‐Related School Policy Implementation

“…Distributing and providing model policies, although important, may not be enough. An assessment of nearly 300 district wellness policies in Minnesota revealed that 29% of districts adopted the exact language of template policies developed by statewide associations . Template policies generally have significantly weaker language and are less comprehensive than tailored wellness policies .…”

“…Template policies generally have significantly weaker language and are less comprehensive than tailored wellness policies . This research emphasizes the importance of specific and comprehensive wellness policies to achieve desired student outcomes …”

“…An assessment of nearly 300 district wellness policies in Minnesota revealed that 29% of districts adopted the exact language of template policies developed by statewide associations. 26 Template policies generally have significantly weaker language and are less comprehensive than tailored wellness policies. 26,27 This research emphasizes the importance of specific and comprehensive wellness policies to achieve desired student outcomes.…”

“…26 Template policies generally have significantly weaker language and are less comprehensive than tailored wellness policies. 26,27 This research emphasizes the importance of specific and comprehensive wellness policies to achieve desired student outcomes. 26 We described state agency support for schools/ districts to implement evidence-supported weightrelated policies.…”

“…26,27 This research emphasizes the importance of specific and comprehensive wellness policies to achieve desired student outcomes. 26 We described state agency support for schools/ districts to implement evidence-supported weightrelated policies. On average, over the past 2 years, states provided more support to districts and schools for implementing policies related to school meals, wellness policies and competitive foods than the other policy areas assessed in this study.…”