The adoption, implementation and maintenance of a school food policy in the Canadian Arctic: a retrospective case study

Abstract

Summary With increasing childhood obesity rates and type 2 diabetes developing in younger age groups, many schools have initiated policies to support healthy eating and active living. Policy interventions can influence not only health behaviours in students but can also impact these behaviours beyond the school walls into the community. We articulate a policy story that emerged during the data collection phase of a study focused on building knowledge and capacity to support healthy eating and active living policy options in a small hamlet located in the Canadian Arctic. The policy processes of a local school food policy to address unhealthy eating are discussed. Through 14 interviews, decision makers, policy influencers and health practitioners described a policy process, retrospectively, including facilitators and barriers to adopting and implementing policy. A number of key activities facilitated the successful policy implementation process and the building of a critical mass to support healthy eating and active living in the community. A key contextual factor in school food policies in the Arctic is the influence of traditional (country) foods. This study is the first to provide an in-depth examination of the implementation of a food policy in a Canadian Arctic school. Recommendations are offered to inform intervention research and guide a food policy implementation process in a school environment facing similar issues.