- Email: [email protected]
Healthier school food fuels children for life
Oral Abstracts off method were excluded, leaving 4380 subjects in the final analysis. Descriptive statistics of absolute added sugars intake, %energy as added sugars (%kJas ), and %sugars as added sugars (%sugarsas ) were calculated. Results were stratified by age group and gender. Results: The mean ± SD added sugars intake of the study population was 63.6 ± 46.9 g/day, representing 12.4 ± 7.3% of daily energy intake and 47.5 ± 20.9% of the total daily sugar intake. Boys aged 4 years or above had significantly higher absolute intake of added sugars than girls of the same age. However there was no difference between gender for %kJas and %sugarsas . Significant increasing trends for added sugars intake, %kJas , and %sugarsas across age groups were observed. Overall 57% of subjects had >10% energy as added sugars, exceeding the World Health Organization recommendation. Conclusion: A large proportion of Australian youths are still consuming excessive amounts of energy from added sugars. Further investigation to identify sources of added sugars in the diets of Australian youths is warranted. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.orcp.2012.08.083
41 Conclusion: Evidence suggests there are positive associations between healthier food choices in the school setting and children’s dietary intake. Comprehensive nutrition policies/guidelines are the most effective in improving the school food environment. There is some evidence to suggest healthier school meals improve children’s education outcomes however most of this research is from the UK where cooked school meals are consumed by 45% of children and regulated by ‘nutrition standards’. New Zealand research has shown an indirect link exists; improving school food increases a child’s ‘opportunity to learn’. To assist schools to improve food provision, the Heart Foundation offers a range of comprehensive programmes and tools, including the new fuelled4life and the Heart Start Programme. These will be showcased during this presentation. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.orcp.2012.08.084 O083 Using the SysANGELO approach to develop action plans for systems change
O082
L. Millar 1,∗ , M. Swinburn 1,2
Healthier school food fuels children for life
1 World
Nichols 1 , S.
Allender 1 , B.
New Zealand Heart Foundation, Auckland, New Zealand
Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Obesity Prevention, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia 2 School of Population Health, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
Aim: To identify existing research on associations between healthier food choices in the school setting and children’s nutrition, education and health. Method: Clionna Ni Murchu was commissioned to review the literature and empirical studies published between August 2001 and July 2011. Key findings from 66 studies were summarised in a ‘factsheet’ and tailored versions sent to schools and stakeholders with a call to action. Results: There is good evidence that comprehensive nutrition policies/guidelines are effective in improving the school food environment and student’s dietary intake at school. Policies must target all food available or consumed on school premises and be supported by the school curriculum, staff and parents. UK studies found positive effects on short-term observed learning behaviour, children’s academic achievement and school attendance following introduction of healthier schools meals. Overall there is a positive effect of school food interventions on children’s educational achievement.
Aim: To describe the process of developing prioritised, community-participatory action plans within a ‘system’ for obesity prevention in adolescents using the SysANGELO (Systems Analysis Grid for Elements Linked to Obesity) Framework. Method: Key informants from 3 intervention high schools participating in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) — ‘‘It’s Your Move systems intervention for obesity prevention’’ and from relevant government departments were engaged then attended a 2-day SysANGELO workshop. A group based participatory approach was used to identify potential interventions in different action areas including policy, curriculum, social marketing, programs, events and environments. Interventions were refined using the World Health Organization framework of system ‘building blocks’: leadership, information, financing/resources, partnerships and workforce development. Results: Draft action plans were developed for each school and key stakeholders were armed with the necessary skills to complete the action plans.
J. Stewart ∗ , S. Hughes
41 Conclusion: Evidence suggests there are positive associations between healthier food choices in the school setting and children’s dietary intake. Comprehensive nutrition policies/guidelines are the most effective in improving the school food environment. There is some evidence to suggest healthier school meals improve children’s education outcomes however most of this research is from the UK where cooked school meals are consumed by 45% of children and regulated by ‘nutrition standards’. New Zealand research has shown an indirect link exists; improving school food increases a child’s ‘opportunity to learn’. To assist schools to improve food provision, the Heart Foundation offers a range of comprehensive programmes and tools, including the new fuelled4life and the Heart Start Programme. These will be showcased during this presentation. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.orcp.2012.08.084 O083 Using the SysANGELO approach to develop action plans for systems change
O082
L. Millar 1,∗ , M. Swinburn 1,2
Healthier school food fuels children for life
1 World
Nichols 1 , S.
Allender 1 , B.
New Zealand Heart Foundation, Auckland, New Zealand
Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Obesity Prevention, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia 2 School of Population Health, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
Aim: To identify existing research on associations between healthier food choices in the school setting and children’s nutrition, education and health. Method: Clionna Ni Murchu was commissioned to review the literature and empirical studies published between August 2001 and July 2011. Key findings from 66 studies were summarised in a ‘factsheet’ and tailored versions sent to schools and stakeholders with a call to action. Results: There is good evidence that comprehensive nutrition policies/guidelines are effective in improving the school food environment and student’s dietary intake at school. Policies must target all food available or consumed on school premises and be supported by the school curriculum, staff and parents. UK studies found positive effects on short-term observed learning behaviour, children’s academic achievement and school attendance following introduction of healthier schools meals. Overall there is a positive effect of school food interventions on children’s educational achievement.
Aim: To describe the process of developing prioritised, community-participatory action plans within a ‘system’ for obesity prevention in adolescents using the SysANGELO (Systems Analysis Grid for Elements Linked to Obesity) Framework. Method: Key informants from 3 intervention high schools participating in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) — ‘‘It’s Your Move systems intervention for obesity prevention’’ and from relevant government departments were engaged then attended a 2-day SysANGELO workshop. A group based participatory approach was used to identify potential interventions in different action areas including policy, curriculum, social marketing, programs, events and environments. Interventions were refined using the World Health Organization framework of system ‘building blocks’: leadership, information, financing/resources, partnerships and workforce development. Results: Draft action plans were developed for each school and key stakeholders were armed with the necessary skills to complete the action plans.
J. Stewart ∗ , S. Hughes