School Health Policies Improving Nationwide, CDC Reports

School districts throughout the nation are demonstrating key improvements in terms of nutritional policies, physical education and tobacco policies, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports.

The announcement is based on the results of the 2012 School Health Policies and Practices Study (SHPPS), the largest and most comprehensive survey used to assess school health policies. Conducted periodically on a state, district, school and classroom level, it examines eight main categories relating to school health: health education, physical education and activity, health services, mental health and social services, nutrition services, healthy and safe school environment, faculty and health promotion, and family and community involvement.

Conducted at all levels in 1994, 2000 and 2006, the 2012 study represents data collected at the state and district levels only.

According to the results, nutritional practices have improved in several key categories.

For example, the percentage of school districts that allow soft drink companies to advertise soft drinks on school grounds decreased from 46.6 percent in 2006 to 33.5 percent in 2012. During this same time period, the percentage of districts that require schools to prohibit offering "junk food" in vending machines increased from 29.8 percent to 43.4 percent. Meanwhile, the percentage of districts that made information available to families on the nutrition and caloric content of foods available to students at school increased from 35.3 percent to 52.7 percent between 2000 and 2012.

As far as physical education and activity goes, the report showed that the percentage of school districts that required elementary schools to teach physical education increased from 82.6 percent in 2000 to 93.6 percent in 2012.

Finally, the percentage of districts with policies that prohibited all tobacco use during any school-related activity increased from 46.7 percent in 2000 to 67.5 percent in 2012.

"Schools play a critical role in the health and well-being of our youth," said CDC Director Dr. Tom Frieden. "Good news for students and parents -- more students have access to healthy food, better physical fitness activities through initiatives such as 'Let's Move,' and campuses that are completely tobacco free."