An environmental intervention to promote lower-fat food choices in secondary schools: outcomes of the TACOS Study.
OBJECTIVE
We evaluated an environmental intervention intended to increase sales of lower-fat foods in secondary school cafeterias.


METHODS
Twenty secondary schools were randomly assigned to either an environmental intervention or a control group for a 2-year period. The intervention increased the availability of lower-fat foods and implemented student-based promotions.


RESULTS
A steeper rate of increase in sales of lower-fat foods in year 1 (10% intervention vs -2.8% control, P =.002) and a higher percentage of sales of lower-fat foods in year 2 (33.6% intervention vs 22.1% control, P =.04) were observed. There were no significant changes in student self-reported food choices.


CONCLUSIONS
School-based environmental interventions to increase availability and promotion of lower-fat foods can increase purchase of these foods among adolescents.
French
Simone A
SA
University of Minnesota, Division of Epidemiology, Minneapolis, MN 55454, USA. french@epi.umn.edu
Story
Mary
M
Fulkerson
Jayne A
JA
Hannan
Peter
P
D000293:Adolescent; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002648:Child; D053198:Child Nutrition Sciences / Q000193:education; D018752:Diet, Fat-Restricted / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004045:Dietary Services / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D005518:Food Preferences / Q000523:psychology; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008612:Menu Planning / Q000592:standards*; D008910:Minnesota / Q000453:epidemiology; D012572:School Health Services / Q000592:standards; D012574:Schools / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013997:Time Factors
D004041:Dietary Fats