The study found that students at schools that randomly received support for nutrition policy implementation had lower BMI’s. Students at the schools that received the additional support reported a BMI increase of <1%, compared to those that did not receive the additional support at a 3-4% increase.

The study looked at 600 middle school students from New Haven, CT. The additional support for nutrition implementation included nutrition newsletters; making sure school-based meals met federal nutrition guidelines; limiting sugary drinks and encouraging water consumption; and limiting use of food or drink as rewards for good grades and behavior. To learn more about implementing these types of initiatives in your district check out our Wellness Policy and Smart Snacks resource page here.