Association Between State Average Obesity Rates and the Creation of School Nutrition Policies

Recent media and popular culture scrutinize and attempt to address rising obesity rates in America. This study aims to determine the association between state average obesity rates and the creation of school nutrition policies. This study develops two measures of strictness in school nutrition policies: offerings and environment. Through the use of linear regression of policy strictness on obesity rates and control variables including state politics and state student demographics, results conclude that state obesity rates are associated with the strictness of school policies related to food environment.