Breastfeeding

Environmental Influences on Nutrition and Physical Activity in Middle Schools

Does Breastfeeding Protect Against Pediatric Overweight?

A study published in the journal Pediatrics, Vol. 113(2), 81-85, showed that prolonged breastfeeding is associated with a reduced risk of overweight among non-Hispanic, white children.  (7/04)

Environmental Influences on Nutrition and Physical Activity in Middle Schools

A study published in the February 2004 issue of Health Education and Behavior aimed to identify factors in school physical activity and nutrition.  Focus groups and interviews were conducted with students, faculty, and staff of two public middle schools.  Participants identified numerous aspects of the school environment as significant.  Competition, teasing and bullying, time, and safety were described as major barriers for students to be physically active during physical education class, on sports teams, and before and after school.  The quality of the food served, easy access to non-nutritious snacks, limited time for lunch period, and weight concerns emerged as significant reasons why students do not eat nutritious meals in school.  When developing programs and policies to improve the health of students, environmental influences that undermine efforts to improve student health behaviors must be addressed.  (7/04)