COMMITTEE CHAIR: Dr. Patricia Hoffman-Miller
TITLE: THE EFFECTS OF SCHOOL NUTRITION POLICY IMPLEMENTATION ON CHILDHOOD OBESITY
ABSTRACT: Overweight and obesity are two of the most pervasive public health problems in the United States and worldwide. The presence of these diseases among children is unwelcome because children may spend their whole lives dealing with the pernicious consequences. The cause of obesity is multifactorial and is therefore difficult to treat. This research study examined whether local wellness policies have been implemented in one rural school district in the state of Texas and if they have been implemented, the level of awareness by school personnel and the extent to which it may affect obesity among the children in the district. The study determined the perceptions of district stakeholders toward childhood obesity and school wellness policy implementation. Thirty-three (n=33) stakeholders of the school district were interviewed. The interview questions were designed to obtain information about the presence of obesity among school children, stakeholders’ awareness of the Local Wellness Policy, barriers or challenges to the elimination of childhood obesity, and transmission of nutrition knowledge to students. Participants agreed that obesity is a major problem among children in the school district. While they were aware of a school wellness policy for the district, they were not sure who designed the document, about the specifics of the document, or who comprised the committee.
Keywords: obesity, overweight, policy implementation.
Zoom Meeting:
https://pvpanther.zoom.us/j/93837156065?pwd=eGVzeDlhQ2lzTitOVHFjeEQ1UDZJZz09
Meeting ID: 938 3715 6065
Passcode: 424296