Understanding what works in school food policy: A multistakeholder approach to quantify policy

Résumé fourni par la source

Background: Most children do not meet nutrition recommendations. Primary schools are a key setting for improving children’s healthy eating, yet overlapping policy guidance can make it difficult for schools to determine which food policies to adopt. Research is needed to quantify which policy components are most effective, feasible, and tailorable to school and child needs, and to identify the mechanisms through which they influence behaviour.Methods: A multistakeholder approach was taken: 1) consultation with food policy experts to provide insights and feedback about the project; 2) scoping of policies across England and Wales to identify effective policy components and the potential mechanisms by which policies may be working to improve healthy eating; 3) engagement sessions with stakeholders (school staff) and end-users (children) in primary schools in Birmingham, UK; and 4) triangulation of insights gained. Fourteen individual policy components were identified. Each component was quantified using indicators of effectiveness (expert opinion; empirical evidence), feasibility (child endorsement; staff views; financial and resource demands), and opportunity for tailoring. Theoretical mechanisms were mapped to each policy component to demonstrate core pathways. Results: Scores varied across components. ‘Learning about food’, ‘role modelling’, and ‘eating with others’ ranked highest across indicators, while components such as ‘growing food’ and ‘preparation or cooking food’ were limited by cost and resource demands. Five components had limited or no empirical evidence despite perceived feasibility. Twelve components were rated as having moderate to high potential for tailoring to school and child needs. Six mechanisms were identified (exposure, food accessibility, motivation, social influences, and knowledge- and skills-based food literacy), each mapping onto multiple policy components. Conclusion: This study provides a comprehensive framework for understanding the effectiveness, feasibility, and opportunity for tailoring school food policy components, alongside the mechanisms through which they may operate. Findings offer practical guidance to support schools and policymakers in selecting and tailoring policies to diverse contexts. Further research should test the proposed mechanisms and explore how tailored approaches can improve healthy eating for all children.

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