# Assessing the Implementation of US Programs and Policies for the Prevention of Food Insecurity and Obesity in Schools

> **NIH NIH F31** · HARVARD UNIVERSITY D/B/A HARVARD SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH · 2022 · $25,683

## Abstract

The hunger safety net plays an important role in helping to alleviate hunger for the one in five US children who
experiences food insecurity. Historically, food assistance programs have focused on ensuring that children
have sufficient access to calories and not necessarily the nutritional quality of food provided. However, in
response to the coexistence of food insecurity and the risk of obesity within the same populations, there is a
growing emphasis on aligning food security and obesity prevention initiatives by simultaneously promoting food
access and nutrition. Strategic design and implementation of policy and program interventions that address
both food insecurity and nutrition for children are therefore imperative to make certain that the food being
provided does not contribute to health disparities. Alignment of food security and nutrition initiatives can also
make better use of limited public health resources for maximum benefits to health outcomes.
The proposed project considers how to improve the implementation of initiatives for child nutrition and food
security in schools. Aim 1 quantifies the relationship between implementation supports (e.g., training and
equipment) and school meal quality using a nationally representative sample of schools. This work explores
whether better implementation supports for assisting schools in adoption of the nutrition standards for meals
associated with the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 resulted in improved nutritional quality of meals.
Using a nationally representative sample of public schools, aim 2 gathers information on an understudied, yet
widely used, program to address food insecurity in schools: weekend backpack programs. These programs
provide income-eligible students with food to take home on Fridays; however, they were not designed based
on scientific evidence and the existing evidence-base for impact on food security and nutrition is extremely
limited. This work will collect information on weekend backpack programs including data on prevalence,
nutritional quality and other characteristics to determine if implementation factors are associated with more
nutritious offerings. Findings may help to identify ways to improve program design, implementation and
nutritional impact. Aim 3 will explore potential disparities in the nutritional quality of weekend backpack
program contents by US region, urbanicity, and poverty-level. This work will determine if certain populations
may be at disproportionate risk for participating in low quality programs that could contribute to poor nutrition
and health disparities. Findings may help to promote equitable adoption of programs.
The research will be achieved through committed mentorship of my sponsors, guidance from my dissertation
advisory committee, and ample educational resources from the institutional environment and beyond. I will also
participate in training and education through courses, seminars, meetings, webinars, and conferences.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10532573
- **Project number:** 1F31HL162250-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** HARVARD UNIVERSITY D/B/A HARVARD SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH
- **Principal Investigator:** Mary Kathryn Poole
- **Activity code:** F31 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $25,683
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2022-09-01 → 2023-05-25

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10532573

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10532573, Assessing the Implementation of US Programs and Policies for the Prevention of Food Insecurity and Obesity in Schools (1F31HL162250-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10532573. Licensed CC0.

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