School Meal Program Participation and Its Association with Dietary Patterns and Childhood Obesity

Does eating school meals influence children’s dietary habits or chances of being overweight or obese? This study addressed these questions using data from the School Nutrition Dietary Assessment III Study. National School Lunch Program participants had lower intakes of sugar-sweetened beverages and a lower percentage of calories from low-nutrient energy dense foods and beverages than did nonparticipants. Overall, however, participation was not significantly related to students’ BMI. School Breakfast Program participants had significantly lower BMI than did nonparticipants, possibly because participants were more likely to eat breakfast and ate more at breakfast, spreading calorie intake more evenly over the course of the day.