Availability and Consumption of Drinking Water in Middle Schools: A Pilot Study
An Evidence-Based Practice
Description
In 2008, researchers conducted a 5-week pilot program to increase the quality and availability of drinking water in a middle school in the Los Angeles Unified School District. Upon initiation of the pilot project, all students and staff at the middle school received reusable water bottles and were instructed to use them only for water. Throughout the intervention period, cafeteria staff filled 5-gallon dispensers with filtered tap water, refrigerated them, and placed them in the cafeteria courtyard during mealtimes. The program also sponsored educational activities to teach students about the nutritional benefits of drinking water instead of sugar-sweetened beverages, in addition to promotional activities to encourage students to drink tap water.
Goal / Mission
To improve drinking water consumption among adolescents.
Impact
This study shows that provision of filtered, chilled drinking water in school cafeterias coupled with promotion and education is associated with increased consumption of drinking water at school.
Results / Accomplishments
Researchers surveyed 7th graders at the intervention school and 7th graders at a comparable school to assess beverage intake at school prior to the intervention, one week after the intervention, and two months after the intervention. Results from the pre-intervention survey and the two-month-post-intervention survey revealed that, relative to their peers at the comparison school, students at the intervention school were significantly more likely to drink water during the school day (p=0.003), drink from the school water fountain (p=0.02), and use reusable water bottles (p=0.005). The intervention did not significantly impact intake of other beverages.
About this Promising Practice
Organization(s)
Los Angeles Unified School District
Primary Contact
Anisha I. Patel, MD, MSPH, MSHS
Department of Pediatrics
University of California at San Francisco
3333 California St, Ste 245, Mailbox 0503
San Francisco, CA 94118
415-476-9189
PatelA@peds.ucsf.edu
Department of Pediatrics
University of California at San Francisco
3333 California St, Ste 245, Mailbox 0503
San Francisco, CA 94118
415-476-9189
PatelA@peds.ucsf.edu
Topics
Health / Physical Activity
Health / Adolescent Health
Health / Adolescent Health
Organization(s)
Los Angeles Unified School District
Source
CDC: Preventing Chronic Disease
Date of publication
May 2011
Date of implementation
2008
Geographic Type
Urban
Location
Los Angeles
For more details
Target Audience
Children, Teens