Christina M. Beaudoin

Location of Food Stores Near Schools Does Not Predict the Weight Status of Maine High School Students.

OBJECTIVE To examine the relationship between stores selling calorie-dense food near schools and student obesity risk, with the hypothesis that high availability predicts increased risk. METHODS Mail surveys determined height, weight, and calorie-dense food consumption for 552 students at 11 Maine high schools. Driving distance from all food stores within 2 km (1.24 miles) of schools (or the closest store) was computed, and the impact of food store density and proximity to schools on student body mass index was determined by logistic regression. RESULTS Ten schools had ≥ 1 store selling soda, and 8 schools had ≥1 fast-food restaurant within 1 km (0.62 miles). There were no significant relationships between the proximity or density of food stores around schools and student obesity risk. Students obtained sugar-sweetened beverages in many locations including at school. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS Unhealthful food choices are ubiquitous. Consequently, stores selling these food items near schools have no significant affect on student obesity.

Evaluating University Physical Activity Courses from Student and Instructor Perspectives

This article presents the results of a survey of student and faculty perspectives within a university-level instructional physical activity (PA) program. The results revealed that students enrolled in the courses primarily for enjoyment and to stay fit. A majority of students ranked the quality of instruction as excellent, were interested in new activity offerings such as SCUBA and training for road races, and would be likely or very likely to continue pursuing the activity in the future. Faculty responses included challenges in teaching instructional PA courses (e.g., varying skill levels, equipment access), the benefits of teaching including improved student skills and student enjoyment, and an interest in professional development opportunities. An ongoing evaluation of student and instructor perspectives within instructional PA programs is recommended and necessary, but responsiveness to this information is paramount for ensuring high-quality, engaging programs.

The university environment: a comprehensive assessment of health‐related advertisements

Purpose – Little is known about health‐related advertising on university environments. Given the power of advertising and its potential effect on health behaviors, the purpose of this paper is to assess the health‐related advertisement environment and policies on university campuses.Design/methodology/approach – In total, ten geographically and ethnically diverse US university campuses that were trained in using the health‐related advertisement survey tool participated in the study. Inter‐rater reliability with data collectors at each university was established before data commencement began in Spring 2011. The survey tool assessed the types, locations, and prevalence of health‐related advertisements and messages (e.g. nutrition, alcohol, tobacco) on campus, and included both advertisements and messages related to any aspect of health by any sponsor. Current campus health‐related policies from each institution were collected as well.Findings – The largest proportion of advertisements on all campuses were ...