Infographic: Evidence-Based Strategies for School Nutrition and Physical Activity

Transforming Evidence in to Action: A Collection of Strategies for School Nutrition and Physical Activity

What to know

  • Teach students about healthy eating behaviors and model these behaviors to create a supportive environment.
  • Give students the opportunities to practice healthy eating and behaviors.
  • Schools can access CDC evidence-based nutrition and physical activity strategies to advance health equity for all students in all schools.
  • The strategies are from a series of CDC systematic reviews published in the Journal of School Health.

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A poster with content about the methods, strategies and research gaps for school nutrition and physical activity.
Transforming Evidence into Action: A Collection of Strategies for Nutrition and Physical Activity from the Journal of School Health. A Series of CDC Systematic Reviews Published in the Journal of School Health.

Transforming Evidence into Action: A Collection of Strategies for Nutrition and Physical Activity from the Journal of School Health. A Series of CDC Systematic Reviews Published in the Journal of School Health. Schools can create supportive environments for eating health and being physically active by teaching students about healthy behaviors, modeling those behaviors, and giving them opportunities to practice these behaviors. This review highlights evidence-based nutrition and physical activity strategies to advance health equity for all students in all schools. This review focused on school-based physical activity and nutrition programs across the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child model that promotes positive health behaviors, positive health and educational outcomes, and greater academic achievement. METHODS: Include over 300 articles in systematic reviews. Articles reviewed were published between 2010-2021. Published 10 articles in the Journal of School Health. Analysis included student and staff nutrition and physical activity knowledge, attitudes, perceptions, and behaviors as outcomes. EFFECTIVE STRATEGIES INCLUDE: Coordinated and multicomponent approaches that involve 2 or more WSCC components. School-level policies for physical education, physical activity, and recess. Nutrition standards for school meals, taste-tests, pre-sliced fruit, and recess before lunch. Professional development on skills, materials, curricula, or instructional practices to adopt the effective strategies. Yoga and mindfulness practices in the classroom. Physical environment to promote physical activity, prosocial play, and healthy diets. Hands-on, skills-based, and interactive health education. Physical activity and nutrition standards for out-of-school time programs. RESEARCH GAPS: Based on our review, more evidence is needed to learn about the barriers to cultivating a healthy school environment for all and the strategies to overcome those barriers for students and staff who: are in communities with limited resources, are affected by systemic inequities, have less access to physical activity and nutrition programs and services. Too access the Journal of School Health Special issue, visit www.onlinelibrary.wiley.com. Transforming Evidence into Action: A Collection of Strategies for Nutrition and Physical Activity from the Journal of School Health. CDC, www.cdc.gov/healthyschools.

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Resource‎

Journal of School Health Special Issue: A Collection of Evidence-Based Strategies for School Nutrition and Physical Activity

Overview

The review highlights evidence-based nutrition and physical activity strategies to advance health equity for all students in all schools.

The review focuses on school-based PA and nutrition programs across the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) model that promotes positive health behaviors, positive health and educational outcomes, and greater academic achievement.

Methods

  • Included over 300 articles in systematic reviews.
  • Published 10 articles in the Journal of School Health.
  • Articles reviewed were published between 2010-2021.
  • Analysis included student and staff nutrition and physical activity knowledge, attitudes, perceptions, and behaviors as outcomes.

Effective strategies include

  • Coordinated and multicomponent approaches that involve 2 or more WSCC components
  • Yoga and mindfulness practices in the classroom
  • School-level policies for physical education, physical activity, and recess
  • Physical environment changes to promote physical activity, prosocial play, and healthy diets
  • Nutrition standards for school meals, taste tests, pre-sliced fruit, and recess before lunch
  • Hands-on, skills-based, and interactive health education
  • Professional development on skills, materials, curricula, or instructional practices to adopt the effective strategies
  • Physical activity and nutrition standards for out-of-school time programs

Research gaps

Based on the review, more evidence is needed to learn about the barriers to cultivating a healthy school environment for all. Additionally, strategies are needed to overcome these barriers for students and staff who:

  • Are in communities with limited resources.
  • Are affected by systemic inequities.
  • Have less access to physical activity and nutrition programs and services.
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Content Source:
Division of Adolescent and School Health; National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion