The Effect of Soft Drink Availability in Elementary Schools on Consumption

The Effect of Soft Drink Availability in Elementary Schools on Consumption

Meenakshi M Fernandes, MPhil: Pardee RAND Graduate School

Fernandes, M. J Am Diet Assoc. 108 (9), Sep. 2008

JOURNAL OF THEAMERICAN DIETETICASSOCIATION



Background


• Schools play an important role in addressing childhood obesity

• No federal standards exist for competitive foods1

• Several local studies have reported associations between the availability of competitive foods and eating behaviors at school

• None have conducted a national scale evaluation1 foods and beverages sold through a la carte lines, vending machines, school stores and school fund raisers which are typically high in calories and low in nutritional value



Objectives


For 5th graders in the 2003-2004 school year:

• Provide national-level data on predictors of soft drink consumption.

• Identify sociodemographic differences in how availability of soft drinks at elementary schools relates to consumption of soft drinks at school and overall.



Data and Measures


• Analysis based on the Early Childhood Longitudinal Survey – Kindergarten Cohort (ECLS-K).

• Baseline sample is nationally-representative of kindergarteners in the 1998-1999 school year.

• Measures of soft drink availability, purchases and consumption are reported by 5th graders in direct assessments



Data Analysis


• Chi-square tests and t-tests used to determine statistically significant differences across sociodemographic groups.

• Multivariate logistic regressions estimate the effect of availability on the odds of any soft drink consumption and overall consumption level.



Results


For 5th grade children in the 2003-2004 school year:

• 26% of children who have soft drinks at school consume them.

• Low-income and Black non-Hispanic children consume more soft drinks both at school and overall.

• Limiting availability of soft drinks at school is associated with a 4% decrease (odds ratio [OR] 1.38) in the odds of any consumption overall.



Blacks have a higher likelihood of consuming soft drinks at school conditional on availability, %


Results from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Survey

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

Race/ Ethnicity

Per

cent

age,

%

White non-Hispanic

Black non-Hispanic

Hispanic

Asian



Children from low-income households consume significantly more soft drinks overall, %


Results from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Survey

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

Consumption level at school Overall consumption level

Per

cent

age,

%

Below poverty threshold

Above poverty threshold



Soft drink availability increases the likelihood of any soft drink consumption, but not consumption level


Results from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Survey OR 95% CISoft drinks available at school 1.38** 1.11-1.70

Male 1.36** 1.10-1.67

Black non-Hispanic 0.98 0.68-1.41Hispanic 0.95 0.69-1.31Asian 0.58 0.39-0.87Other race 0.81 0.50-1.32Overweight 0.94 0.74-1.19Below poverty threshold 0.75* 0.57-0.99

School Characteristics Private 1.15 0.77-1.71Suburban 1.04 0.79-1.36Rural 1.08 0.80-1.46Midwest 1.21 0.86-1.69South 1.31 0.96-1.78West 0.95 0.68-1.33

Individual Characteristics



Conclusions


• Soft drink availability at school may have limited impact on overall consumption

• Other food items offered to elementary school children may have a similar limited contribution

• The effect of availability on consumption may be stronger for older children

The Effect of Soft Drink Availability in Elementary Schools on Consumption

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