Work

Dietary Effects of School-Based SNAP-Ed Education with and without Policy, Systems, and Environmental Change Strategies

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: There is potential value in combining education with policy, systems, and environmental (PSE) change strategies in school-based dietary and physical activity (PA) interventions. We investigated the impact of different combinations of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program-Education (SNAP-Ed) interventions on diet and PA and determined if student and school characteristics modified these impacts. A quasi-experimental, two-group (intervention (I) and comparison (C)), pre-post design examined the impact of interventions on diet and PA of 4th /5th grade students (n I =2,115;n C =1,102) in SNAP-Ed-eligible California public schools (n I =51;n C =18). Compared to students receiving no intervention, students receiving education + PSE decreased soda intake by 0.08 times/day [95% CI: −0.15, −0.02], increased whole fruit intake by 0.17 times/day [95% CI: 0.03–0.32], and increased total vegetable intake by 0.46 times/day [95% CI: 0.18–0.75]. Among students who received education only, sport and energy drink intake increased by 0.11 times/day [95% CI: 0.03–0.19] and 0.05 times/day [95% CI: 0.01–1.10] respectively, compared to students receiving no intervention, and fruit juice intake increased by 0.11 times/day [95% CI: 0.03, 0.20]. School urbanicity and Free and Reduced-Price Meal (FRPM) eligibility level modified intervention impacts. Compared to students from no intervention schools, students in urban schools receiving education only increased intake frequency of sweetened fruit drinks (β interaction [95% CI] = 0.12[0.01–0.23], and students from schools with FRPM above the state average receiving education + PSE significantly increased intake frequency of beans (β interaction [95% CI] = 0.14[0.04–0.24]. Findings highlight the benefit of coupling nutrition education with PSE changes and identify key areas for refining dietary and PA interventions in schools.

Source: Journal of Community Health

DOI: 10.1007/s10900-025-01507-0

Authors: Amanda Linares, Ramsha Baig, Sridharshi C. Hewawitharana, Gail Woodward-Lopez, Miranda Westfall Brown

Institution: University of California Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources

Language: English

Topic: Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet

Subfield: Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDGs: Good health and well-being, Zero hunger, Quality education

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $4,990