title: Statewide evaluation of local wellness policies in Georgia: an examination of policy compliance, policy strength, and associated factors.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyze relationships between demographic characteristics of Georgia school systems and: (1) compliance with the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act (CNRA); and (2) strength of wellness policy goals in nutrition, physical activity, and other school-based activities.
  
  
  METHODS
  Each local school district submitted their school-board-approved wellness policy to researchers. Each policy was reviewed and coded for compliance with CNRA and evaluated on the strength of its goals.
  
  
  METHODS
  Public school districts.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred seventy-six of 180 Georgia public school systems participated.
  
  
  METHODS
  Independent variables were demographic characteristics of Georgia school systems. Dependent variables were ratings from the policy evaluation instrument, grouped into composite indices to compare the strength (ie, ratings) of wellness policy goals.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pearson correlation, cross-tabulation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant positive associations were found between academic performance and: strength of overall wellness policy goals (P < .05), goals in nutrition education (P < .01), and other school-based activities (P < .01). Economic status of the student population was found to be positively associated with strength of nutrition education goals (P < .05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Districts with stronger academic performance had more comprehensive overall wellness policy goals and stronger goals in nutrition education and other school-based activities.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Public Health, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA30302, USA. rlyn1@gsu.edu
authors.forename: Rodney
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lyn
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: O'Meara
authors.forename: Valerie A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Hepburn
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Potter
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D053198:Child Nutrition Sciences / Q000193:education*; D002664:Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena / Q000502:physiology*; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005845:Georgia; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018673:Nutrition Policy; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D011632:Public Assistance; D011640:Public Policy; D012574:Schools; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric