Promoting the selection of low-fat milk in elementary school cafeterias in an inner-city Latino community: evaluation of an intervention.
OBJECTIVE
This study examined the effects of a school-based intervention designed to promote the consumption of low-fat white milk at lunchtime in 6 elementary schools in an inner-city, primarily Latino neighborhood.


METHODS
A multifaceted intervention based on social marketing techniques was delivered at 3 randomly selected schools. The school was the unit of assignment and analysis; 6902 children were involved in the study. Milk selection and consumption were measured by sampling discarded milk and/or tallying milk carton disappearance at baseline, immediately postintervention, and at 3 to 4 months follow-up.


RESULTS
Immediately postintervention, the mean proportion of sampled milk cartons that contained low-fat milk increased in the intervention schools, from 25% to 57%, but remained constant at 28% in the control schools. Differences between intervention and control schools remained significant at 3 to 4 months follow-up. The intervention was not associated with a decrease in overall milk consumption.


CONCLUSIONS
A school-based intervention can lead to significant increases in student consumption of low-fat milk.
Wechsler
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Center for Health Promotion, Teachers College, Columbia University, New York City, USA.
Basch
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Zybert
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Shea
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D000818:Animals; D002648:Child; D018752:Diet, Fat-Restricted; D004041:Dietary Fats; D005260:Female; D005518:Food Preferences; D005522:Food Services; D015438:Health Behavior; D006293:Health Promotion; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008892:Milk; D009519:New York City; D012574:Schools; D014505:Urban Population
D004041:Dietary Fats