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2000 California High School Fast Food Survey

Concerned about the record level of youth obesity, the Public Health Institute conducted the first study in the state to research the prevalence of fast foods on California high school campuses and student access to healthy foods at school. The study, conducted by Samuels and Associates, describes the:

• Types of fast foods being sold on California high school campuses;
  
  
• Factors that influence fast food sales; and the
  
  
• Economic and policy issues associated with them.
  

California Project LEAN is using the survey findings to address adolescent nutrition and physical activity issues. For a one page fact sheet with survey findings and recommendations click here.

In 2001, California Project LEAN received top honors (a Crystal Award) from the International Association of Business Communicators, Sacramento Chapter, for its public relations campaign releasing the 2000 California High School Fast Food Survey.

The survey detailed the widespread availability of fast foods on high school campuses. Release of the survey was designed to reframe the issue from the behavior of the adolescents for purchasing fast foods at school to the public policy issue of providing unhealthy foods on high school campuses.

Release of the Fast Food Survey led to:

• News coverage in all California major media markets and other national media, including mention in U.S. News & World Reports (Takada, E, 2001)
  
  
• California legislation restricting the sale of unhealthy foods in public schools. In 2002, Senator Martha Escutia commended California Project LEAN's work on conducting and disseminating the findings of the 2000 California High School Fast Food Survey, noting it was the impetus for her legislation restricting unhealthy foods and beverages in public schools. Click here to view the letter.

One of the main objectives of the Fast Food Survey media advocacy campaign was to prompt the press to report recommendations and solutions to the fast food problem in their news coverage. A content analysis conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of this media advocacy effort found that 81 percent of the articles reported one or more recommended solutions to the prevalence of fast food on high school campuses. Almost 65 percent of the articles reported the recommendation that schools should offer more healthy foods that are as convenient, inexpensive and appealing as high-fat fast foods. This was a major point that program planners conveyed to the media.

Click here to view a PDF of the Fast Food survey.

Click here to view a PDF of the media content analysis.

The surveys were funded by a grant from The California Endowment.