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AHRQ Research Studies
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Research Studies is a compilation of published research articles funded by AHRQ or authored by AHRQ researchers.
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1 to 8 of 8 Research Studies DisplayedCohen JFW, Gorski Findling MT, Rosenfeld L
The impact of 1 year of healthier school food policies on students' diets during and outside of the school day.
In 2012, Massachusetts implemented both the updated national school meal standards and comprehensive competitive food/beverage standards that closely align with current national requirements for school snacks. This study examines the impact of these combined standards on school meal and snack food selections, as well as food choices outside of school. The investigators concluded that with the reduction in the number of unhealthy school snacks, significantly more students selected school meals. Students did not compensate for lack of unhealthy snacks in school by increased consumption of unhealthy snacks outside of school.
AHRQ-funded; HS000055.
Citation: Cohen JFW, Gorski Findling MT, Rosenfeld L .
The impact of 1 year of healthier school food policies on students' diets during and outside of the school day.
J Acad Nutr Diet 2018 Dec;118(12):2296-301. doi: 10.1016/j.jand.2018.07.009..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Education, Nutrition, Policy
Gorski Findling MT, Werth PM, Musicus AA
Comparing five front-of-pack nutrition labels' influence on consumers' perceptions and purchase intentions.
In 2011, a National Academy of Medicine report recommended that packaged food in the U.S. display a uniform front-of-package nutrition label, using a system such as a 0-3 star ranking. This study compares five front-of-pack nutrition labels' influence on consumers' perceptions and purchase intentions. The authors indicated that results did not point to a clearly superior label design, but suggested that a 3-star label might not be best for educating consumers.
AHRQ-funded; HS000055.
Citation: Gorski Findling MT, Werth PM, Musicus AA .
Comparing five front-of-pack nutrition labels' influence on consumers' perceptions and purchase intentions.
Prev Med 2018 Jan;106:114-21. doi: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2017.10.022..
Keywords: Education, Nutrition, Obesity
Payan DD, Sloane DC, Illum J
Perceived barriers and facilitators to healthy eating and school lunch meals among adolescents: a qualitative study.
The researchers explored how perceived barriers and facilitators influence healthy eating and investigated the acceptability of changes to school lunch meals among adolescents after implementation of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010. Their findings suggest the need to measure perceived and actual barriers to healthy eating among adolescents and to examine the effect of these barriers on dietary behavior.
AHRQ-funded; HS000046.
Citation: Payan DD, Sloane DC, Illum J .
Perceived barriers and facilitators to healthy eating and school lunch meals among adolescents: a qualitative study.
Am J Health Behav 2017 Sep 1;41(5):661-69. doi: 10.5993/ajhb.41.5.15.
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Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Education, Lifestyle Changes, Nutrition
Davis MM, Spurlock M, Ramsey K
Milk options observation (MOO): a mixed-methods study of chocolate milk removal on beverage consumption and student/staff behaviors in a rural elementary school.
The researchers conducted a study of flavored milk removal at a rural primary school between May and June 2012. They measured beverage selection/consumption pre- and post-chocolate milk removal and collected observation field notes. Their conclusion was that removing flavored milk from school-provided lunches may lower students' daily added sugar consumption without considerably decreasing calcium and protein intake and may promote healthy weight.
AHRQ-funded; HS022981.
Citation: Davis MM, Spurlock M, Ramsey K .
Milk options observation (MOO): a mixed-methods study of chocolate milk removal on beverage consumption and student/staff behaviors in a rural elementary school.
J Sch Nurs 2017 Aug;33(4):285-98. doi: 10.1177/1059840517703744.
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Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Education, Nutrition, Rural Health
Rosenfeld LE, Cohen JF, Gorski MT
How do we actually put smarter snacks in schools? NOURISH (Nutrition Opportunities to Understand Reforms Involving Student Health) conversations with food-service directors.
In autumn 2012, Massachusetts schools implemented comprehensive competitive food and beverage standards similar to the US Department of Agriculture's Smart Snacks in School standards. In this study, the authors explored major themes raised by food-service directors (FSD) regarding their school-district-wide implementation of the standards. The investigators found that FSD in more-compliant districts were more likely to talk about themes than those in less-compliant districts.
AHRQ-funded; HS000055.
Citation: Rosenfeld LE, Cohen JF, Gorski MT .
How do we actually put smarter snacks in schools? NOURISH (Nutrition Opportunities to Understand Reforms Involving Student Health) conversations with food-service directors.
Public Health Nutr 2017 Feb;20(3):556-64. doi: 10.1017/s1368980016002044..
Keywords: Education, Nutrition
Cohen JF, Gorski MT, Hoffman JA
Healthier standards for school meals and snacks: impact on school food revenues and lunch participation rates.
This study evaluated the impact of updated school meal standards and Massachusetts' comprehensive competitive food standards on school food revenues and school lunch participation. The study found that schools experienced initial revenue losses after implementation of the standards, yet longer-term school food revenues were not impacted and school meal participation increased among children eligible for reduced-price meals. Weakening the school meal or competitive food guidelines based on revenue concerns appears unwarranted.
AHRQ-funded; HS000055.
Citation: Cohen JF, Gorski MT, Hoffman JA .
Healthier standards for school meals and snacks: impact on school food revenues and lunch participation rates.
Am J Prev Med 2016 Oct;51(4):485-92. doi: 10.1016/j.amepre.2016.02.031..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Education, Nutrition
Gorski MT, Cohen JF, Hoffman JA
Impact of nutrition standards on competitive food quality in Massachusetts middle and high schools.
This study examined changes in competitive foods (items sold in a la carte lines, vending machines, and school stores that "compete" with school meals) in Massachusetts middle and high schools before and after implementation of a statewide nutrition law in 2012. It found that by 2014, 60 percent of competitive foods and 79 percent of competitive beverages were compliant.
AHRQ-funded; HS000055.
Citation: Gorski MT, Cohen JF, Hoffman JA .
Impact of nutrition standards on competitive food quality in Massachusetts middle and high schools.
Am J Public Health 2016 Jun;106(6):1101-8. doi: 10.2105/ajph.2016.303139.
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Keywords: Nutrition, Education, Children/Adolescents
Hoffman JA, Rosenfeld L, Schmidt N
Implementation of competitive food and beverage standards in a sample of Massachusetts Schools: the NOURISH Study (Nutrition Opportunities to Understand Reforms Involving Student Health).
This study examined the extent to which a sample of Massachusetts middle schools and high schools sold foods and beverages that were compliant with the state competitive food and beverage standards after the first year of implementation, and complied with four additional aspects of the regulation. The multilevel models used in the study demonstrated a 47-percentage-point increase in food and 46-percentage-point increase in beverage compliance in Massachusetts schools from 2012 to 2013.
AHRQ-funded; HS000055.
Citation: Hoffman JA, Rosenfeld L, Schmidt N .
Implementation of competitive food and beverage standards in a sample of Massachusetts Schools: the NOURISH Study (Nutrition Opportunities to Understand Reforms Involving Student Health).
J Acad Nutr Diet 2015 Aug;115(8):1299-307.e2. doi: 10.1016/j.jand.2015.04.019..
Keywords: Nutrition, Children/Adolescents, Education, Policy