Evaluating the Impact of Universal Free School Meals on Child Blood Pressure

Abstract

High blood pressure in children is linked to negative health outcomes in adulthood. The Community Eligibility Provision, a federal universal free school meals policy, has the potential to reduce high blood pressure in children by expanding access to free breakfast and lunch to all students in low-income schools, who are at increased risk of developing high blood pressure. The purpose of this dissertation research is to describe school characteristics associated with CEP participation, and to use this information to evaluate the effectiveness of this policy in reducing high blood pressure in children. Specifically, the three aims of this dissertation research are to 1) Assess school and area characteristics associated with CEP participation and how these associations have changed over time 2) Estimate the association of CEP with blood pressure outcomes 3) Assess heterogeneity in the association of CEP and high blood pressure prevalence by age and race and ethnicity.