Limited Evidence That Competitive Food and Beverage Practices Affect Adolescent Consumption Behaviors

Tracy Vericker, Urban Institute

Childhood obesity is emerging as a considerable public health problem with no clear antidote. The school food environment is a potential intervention point for policymakers, with competitive food and beverage regulation as a possible policy lever. This research examines the link between competitive food and beverage availability in school and adolescent consumption patterns using data from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten Class of 1998-1999. Results from value-added multivariate regression models reveal limited evidence that competitive food policy affects fruit and vegetable consumption. Findings suggest a stronger link between competitive beverage policy and consumption of sweetened beverages for population subgroups.