Healthy eating policies in schools: an evaluation of effects on pupils' knowledge, attitudes and behaviour

Abstract

THE effect of a healthy eating health promotion in itiative on the knowledge, actitudes and behaviour of secondary-school pupils was investigated in this study in Lothian Region in 1992. This was under taken by comparing pupils in a case study school, which had introduced a healthy eating policy, with pupils in two control schools. The investigation dem onstrated that the levels of knowledge of healthy eating were similar in the three schools, but there were significant differences in eating behaviour be tween the schools. Pupils in the case study school demonstrated healthier snack selection at school and a greater uptake of school meals. There was evidence that wider factors, not within the domain of the school, counteracted the case study school's achievement and the policy implications of this are discussed.