Removal of Vending Machines from Schools and Adolescents’ BMI: Qualitative and Quantitative Input from Key School Staff

Objective: The objective of this study was to examine body mass index (BMI) changes in adolescents after the removal of vending machines from their respective high schools. Method: Participants included 1800 high school students from Harrisburg School District, located in a small urban city in Southeastern Pennsylvania. Students’ BMI was measured from 2004 through 2007 and the vending machines were removed in the 2006 and 2007 school year. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to examine the mean differences in students’ BMI as well as SAS version 9.1 was used for the statistical analysis. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with a food service director and nurse. Both interviews were tape recorded and transcribed afterwards. Results: Overall, there were no statistical significance found, however, there appeared a general trend towards smaller increases in BMI from 2005-2006 to 2006-2007 school year compared to 2004-2005 and 2005-2006 school years. The BMI mean changed from 0.71 to 0.75. There was an insignificant decrease in 2005-2006 to 2006-2007 school year when the vending machines were removed. Children who had their data for all three years (n-205), BMI increases were smaller over time. Qualitative parts of the result indicated as the schools food service director and a nurse indicated, for the healthier environment in schools, any school having vending machines that are high in sugar content should be removed and follow the wellness policy that came out in the 2007 school year. Conclusion: The outcomes were not as significant due to removal of vending machines but it appeared that the rate of change in BMI over time will decrease across high school students. There are also other factors, such as poverty, that have a large influence on obesity. As a result, future studies should measure students’ actual vending machine use, and interview more school staff on adolescents’ food intake. Introduction Obesity has become an epidemic in the United States, and has been given more attention due to the increasing prevalence in adults and children (Ogden, Carroll, Curtin, McDowell, Tabak, & Flegal, 2007). Numerous questions arise for future generations and their health status, and, most especially for children. The obesity epidemic among children and adolescents is related to a variety of factors including one of the many, the issue of vending machines that which is one of many factors that contributed to adolescent obesity (Gemmill, & Nancy, 2005). Multifaceted preventions and interventions are extremely important in halting the adulthood obesity epidemic and the chronic diseases that are related to it. This study will look at the