I was recently asked what were some of the measurable outcomes of the Smarter Lunchroom program. Here's what I sent them.
Top-Line Summary • 18% calorie reduction (Cohen et al., 2015). • .3-point decrease in obesity (Ickovics et al., 2019). • 20-27% less food waste (Williamson et al., 2016). • Projected $1.1 billion in health care savings over 10 years (Gortmaker et al., 2015). • Benefit-to-cost ratio of 4.2:1 (California Dept Ed, 2018). The Smarter Lunchrooms Movement (SLM), which was launched in 2009 Cornell University (2009-2017), applies principles of behavioral economics to nudge students toward healthier food choices without restricting options. While the program's approach of making small environmental changes in cafeterias seems intuitively beneficial, stakeholders rightfully demand evidence of concrete outcomes and measurable metrics of success. This report examines specific measurable changes in eating habits, reductions in obesity, and economic impacts resulting from SLM implementation. Impact on Obesity and Long-term Health Metrics While long-term obesity reduction studies are challenging due to the multiple factors influencing weight and the relatively recent widespread adoption of SLM, several studies have documented promising impacts:
Cost Effectiveness and Economic Impact The SLM approach stands out for its exceptional return on investment:
California Implementation Case Study California's statewide implementation of SLM offers compelling evidence of measurable success:
Conclusion The Smarter Lunchrooms Movement has demonstrated measurable, significant effects on student food selection and consumption patterns through rigorous scientific studies. While direct causal links to long-term obesity reduction are challenging to establish, the program has shown meaningful short-term impacts on caloric intake, nutritional quality, and economic outcomes. The evidence indicates that SLM is not merely encouraging habits that "might" extend into adulthood, but is creating immediate, measurable changes in eating behaviors that can contribute to healthier weight trajectories when implemented as part of comprehensive school wellness initiatives. Most importantly, SLM achieves these outcomes with minimal financial investment, making it among the most cost-effective nutrition interventions available to schools today. References California Department of Education. (2017). Smarter Lunchrooms Movement - Healthy eating & nutrition education. Retrieved from https://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/nu/he/smarterlunchrooms.asp California Department of Education. (2018). Team Nutrition Training Grant Final Report: Smarter Lunchrooms Movement of California. Cohen, J. F. W., Richardson, S., Parker, E., Catalano, P. J., & Rimm, E. B. (2015). Impact of the new USDA school meal standards on food selection, consumption, and waste. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 46(4), 388-394. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2013.11.013 Golub, M., Charlton, V., Kuester-Orr, H., Odabas, K., Fisk, C., & Fukagawa, N. (2019). School-level factors associated with implementing Smarter Lunchrooms in Pennsylvania. Journal of School Health, 89(8), 622-630. https://doi.org/10.1111/josh.12798 Gortmaker, S. L., Wang, Y. C., Long, M. W., Giles, C. M., Ward, Z. J., Barrett, J. L., Kenney, E. L., Sonneville, K. R., Sadaf Afzal, A., Resch, S. C., & Cradock, A. L. (2015). Three interventions that reduce childhood obesity are projected to save more than they cost to implement. Health Affairs, 34(11), 1932-1939. https://doi.org/10.1377/hlthaff.2015.0631 Goto, K., Waite, A., Wolff, C., Chan, K., & Giovanni, M. (2013). Do environmental interventions impact elementary school students' lunchtime milk selection? Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy, 35(2), 360-376. https://doi.org/10.1093/aepp/ppt004 Greene, K. N., Gabrielyan, G., Just, D. R., & Wansink, B. (2017). Fruit-promoting Smarter Lunchrooms interventions: Results from a cluster RCT. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 52(5), 451-458. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2016.12.015 Hanks, A. S. (2017). Smarter Lunchroom principles are worth every penny: How simple lunchroom changes impact the school meal program bottom line. Journal of School Health, 87(1), 21-27. https://doi.org/10.1111/josh.12461 Hanks, A. S., Just, D. R., & Brumberg, A. (2016). Marketing vegetables in elementary school cafeterias to increase uptake. Pediatrics, 138(2), e20151720. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2015-1720 Hanks, A. S., Just, D. R., & Wansink, B. (2013). Smarter lunchrooms can address new school lunchroom guidelines and childhood obesity. Journal of Pediatrics, 166(4), 867-869. Just, D. R., & Wansink, B. (2009). Smarter lunchrooms: Using behavioral economics to improve meal selection. Choices, 24(3), 1-6. Ickovics, J. R., Duffany, K. O., Shebl, F. M., Peters, S. M., Read, M. A., Gilstad-Hayden, K. R., & Schwartz, M. B. (2019). Implementing school-based policies to prevent obesity: Cluster randomized trial. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 56(1), e1-e11. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2018.08.026 Wansink, B. (2014). Slim by design: Mindless eating solutions for everyday life. New York: William Morrow. Williamson, D. A., Han, H., Johnson, W. D., Martin, C. K., & Newton, R. L. (2016). Modification of the school cafeteria environment can impact childhood nutrition: Results from the Wise Mind and LA Health studies. Appetite, 96, 80-85. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2015.08.037
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