School Nutrition Policies and Associations With Academic Outcomes: A Comprehensive Summary of Current Evidence

IF 1.8 4区医学 Q2 EDUCATION & EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH

Journal of School Health Pub Date : 2026-10-06 DOI:10.1111/josh.70244

Mary Curnutte, Leah Chapman, Ashely Kesack, Parisa Afsharian, Lucine Francis, Gina Genova, Erin Hager, Juliana Cohen

{"title":"School Nutrition Policies and Associations With Academic Outcomes: A Comprehensive Summary of Current Evidence","authors":"Mary Curnutte, Leah Chapman, Ashely Kesack, Parisa Afsharian, Lucine Francis, Gina Genova, Erin Hager, Juliana Cohen","doi":"10.1111/josh.70244","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div>\n \n \n <section>\n \n <h3> Background</h3>\n \n <p>Healthy diets can improve cognitive function; therefore, school nutrition policies may support academic performance. Prior systematic reviews documented positive associations between school nutrition-related policies and academics, but less is known about their associations with academic inequities. This review updates the evidence while addressing the gap on academic inequities.</p>\n </section>\n \n <section>\n \n <h3> Methods</h3>\n \n <p>Building on two prior systematic reviews (2021, 2023) of naturally-occurring during-school U.S. nutrition policies and academics (i.e., attendance, test scores, behavior), we conducted an updated systematic search using their established terms and synthesized evidence on academic equity (differences in subgroup outcomes, i.e., race, ethnicity, income).</p>\n </section>\n \n <section>\n \n <h3> Results</h3>\n \n <p>This updated comprehensive review includes 33 studies (10 new, 23 from the prior reviews). Newly identified studies examined Universal Free School Meals (UFSM; <i>n</i> = 6), Breakfast After the Bell (BATB; <i>n</i> = 2), the School Breakfast Program (<i>n</i> = 1), and Recess Before Lunch (<i>n</i> = 1). Most reported positive or neutral academic associations. Most studies examining equity-related outcomes found larger academic improvements among subpopulations.</p>\n </section>\n \n <section>\n \n <h3> Implications for School Health Policy, Practice, and Equity</h3>\n \n <p>School nutrition policies can improve academic achievement while addressing educational equity.</p>\n </section>\n \n <section>\n \n <h3> Conclusions</h3>\n \n <p>UFSM and BATB equitably improve academic performance. More research is needed for other promising policies.</p>\n </section>\n </div>","PeriodicalId":50059,"journal":{"name":"Journal of School Health","volume":"96 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8000,"publicationDate":"2026-10-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Journal of School Health","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/josh.70244","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"EDUCATION & EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH","Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background

Healthy diets can improve cognitive function; therefore, school nutrition policies may support academic performance. Prior systematic reviews documented positive associations between school nutrition-related policies and academics, but less is known about their associations with academic inequities. This review updates the evidence while addressing the gap on academic inequities.

Methods

Building on two prior systematic reviews (2021, 2023) of naturally-occurring during-school U.S. nutrition policies and academics (i.e., attendance, test scores, behavior), we conducted an updated systematic search using their established terms and synthesized evidence on academic equity (differences in subgroup outcomes, i.e., race, ethnicity, income).

Results

This updated comprehensive review includes 33 studies (10 new, 23 from the prior reviews). Newly identified studies examined Universal Free School Meals (UFSM; n = 6), Breakfast After the Bell (BATB; n = 2), the School Breakfast Program (n = 1), and Recess Before Lunch (n = 1). Most reported positive or neutral academic associations. Most studies examining equity-related outcomes found larger academic improvements among subpopulations.

Implications for School Health Policy, Practice, and Equity

School nutrition policies can improve academic achievement while addressing educational equity.

Conclusions

UFSM and BATB equitably improve academic performance. More research is needed for other promising policies.

查看原文本刊更多论文

学校营养政策及其与学业成绩的关联：当前证据的综合总结。

背景：健康饮食可以改善认知功能；因此，学校营养政策可以支持学习成绩。先前的系统评论记录了学校营养相关政策与学术之间的积极联系，但对它们与学术不平等的联系知之甚少。这篇综述更新了证据，同时解决了学术不平等的差距。方法：在之前的两项系统综述（2021年和2023年）的基础上，我们对在校期间自然发生的美国营养政策和学术（即出勤、考试成绩、行为）进行了更新的系统检索，使用他们建立的术语和关于学术公平的综合证据（亚组结果的差异，即种族、民族、收入）。结果：这篇更新的综合综述包括33项研究（10项新研究，23项来自先前的综述）。新发现的研究调查了普遍免费学校膳食（umfsm, n = 6）、放学后早餐（BATB, n = 2）、学校早餐计划（n = 1）和午餐前休息（n = 1）。大多数报告积极或中立的学术联系。大多数调查公平相关结果的研究发现，在亚群体中，学业进步更大。对学校健康政策、实践和公平的影响：学校营养政策可以在解决教育公平的同时提高学习成绩。结论：UFSM和BATB对学业成绩的提高是公平的。其他有希望的政策需要更多的研究。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

求助全文

约1分钟内获得全文求助全文

来源期刊

Journal of School Health 医学-公共卫生、环境卫生与职业卫生

CiteScore

3.70

自引率

9.10%

发文量

134

审稿时长

6-12 weeks

期刊介绍： Journal of School Health is published 12 times a year on behalf of the American School Health Association. It addresses practice, theory, and research related to the health and well-being of school-aged youth. The journal is a top-tiered resource for professionals who work toward providing students with the programs, services, and environment they need for good health and academic success.