A recent article in the journal Health Economics presents findings from a Virginia Tech study that concludes participation in government-funded school meals increases the probability that children will be overweight. To avoid coming to the wrong conclusion, this study needs to be viewed in the context of the larger evidence base on the topic. It is Important to understand the limitations of both the data collected and the analysis provided.
- The study did not look at the consumption of food at school or account for the consumption of food outside of school.
- In recent years, nutrition standards for federal school meals have been significantly strengthened because of the requirements in the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010. This study uses data from 1998 through 2007; therefore, it fails to account for the improved school nutrition requirements. If any conclusion can be drawn, it should be that the nutrition standards in the Healthy Hunger Free Kids Act were warranted. No conclusions can be drawn about participation in today’s breakfast or lunch programs.
- A 2014 study also conducted by researchers at Virginia Tech compared lunches served by the National School Lunch Program (after the introduction of the healthy meal standards) with those that students bring from home. The study found that school lunches are more nutritious.
- Unmentioned by the 2016 Virginia Tech study, research demonstrates that school provided meals, on average, contain fewer calories, fat and saturated fat. Further, school meals tend to have higher counts of protein, fiber and calcium.
- The National School Lunch and School Breakfast programs are intended to address hunger and food insecurity. Numerous studies have demonstrated that they effectively meet this goal.
- Similar studies have examined the impact of federal school meal programs on obesity and have shown that there is no impact.
Childhood hunger affects one in five children in the United States. Kids who struggle with hunger underachieve in school and are subjected to a lifetime of poor health. For millions of kids, free and reduce-priced school meals provide the only protection from the pains of an empty stomach and the associated long-term consequences.
