title: Evidence-based policies on school nutrition and physical education: Associations with state-level collaboration, obesity, and socio-economic indicators.
abstract: Despite calls for more cross-sector collaboration on obesity prevention, little is known about the role of collaborative partnerships, or groups of organizations from different sectors working together toward a shared goal, in state policy activities. This study examined associations between competitive food/beverage and physical education policies and state-level collaboration and state characteristics (obesity, socioeconomic indicators, public health funding levels) for all 50 states and the District of Columbia, USA, in 2012. We examined cross-sectional associations between evidence-based competitive food/beverage and physical education policies from the Classification of Laws Associated with School Students and state characteristics from the School Health Policies and Practices Study and other national data sources using prevalence ratios and generalized linear models. Analyses were conducted in 2016. Cross-sector collaboration (i.e., state staff reports of working together on school nutrition or physical education activities) between state-level nutrition and physical education staff and ten types of organizations was not significantly associated with having state policies. Childhood obesity (RR=1.78, 95% CI[1.11,2.85]), high-school non-completion (RR=2.35, 95% CI[1.36,4.06]), poverty (RR=1.89, 95% CI[1.16,3.09]) and proportion non-white or Hispanic residents (RR=1.75, 95% CI[1.07, 2.85]) were positively associated with the presence of elementary school competitive food/beverage policies. Fewer indicators were associated with policies for middle and high schools. The large investment of time and resources required for cross-sector collaboration demands greater research evidence on how to structure and manage collaborative partnerships for the greatest impact.
authors.affiliation: University of Minnesota School of Public Health, Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, 1300 S. Second St, Minneapolis, MN 55454, USA. Electronic address: pelle137@umn.edu.
authors.forename: Jennifer E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Pelletier
authors.affiliation: University of Minnesota School of Public Health, Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, 1300 S. Second St, Minneapolis, MN 55454, USA. Electronic address: mnlaska@umn.edu.
authors.forename: Melissa N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Laska
authors.affiliation: University of Minnesota School of Public Health, Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, 1300 S. Second St, Minneapolis, MN 55454, USA. Electronic address: macl0029@umn.edu.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: MacLehose
authors.affiliation: University of Minnesota School of Public Health, Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, 1300 S. Second St, Minneapolis, MN 55454, USA. Electronic address: tfnelson@umn.edu.
authors.forename: Toben F
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Nelson
authors.affiliation: University of Minnesota, Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, 717 Delaware St. SE, Minneapolis, MN 55414, USA. Electronic address: msnanney@umn.edu.
authors.forename: Marilyn S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Nanney
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D055317:Evidence-Based Practice; D015444:Exercise; D005522:Food Services; D006291:Health Policy / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D006801:Humans; D009752:Nutritional Status; D063766:Pediatric Obesity / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012574:Schools / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014481:United States
keywords: Community networks; Nutrition policy; Physical education; Policy; Schools