Preventing Chronic Disease | Lessons Learned From a Healthful Vending Pilot Program in Delaware State Agency Buildings, 2011–2012 - CDC

full-text ►

Preventing Chronic Disease | Lessons Learned From a Healthful Vending Pilot Program in Delaware State Agency Buildings, 2011–2012 - CDC

Lessons Learned From a Healthful Vending Pilot Program in Delaware State Agency Buildings, 2011–2012

Navigate This Article

• Abstract
• Introduction
• Methods
• Results
• Discussion
• Acknowledgments
• Author Information
• References
• Tables

Laura Lessard, PhD, MPH; Mollie Poland, MPP; Mary Trotter, MS, RD, LDN

Suggested citation for this article: Lessard L, Poland M, Trotter M. Lessons Learned From a Healthful Vending Pilot Program in Delaware State Agency Buildings, 2011–2012. Prev Chronic Dis 2014;11:140188. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5888/pcd11.140188.

PEER REVIEWED

Abstract

Introduction
Changes in food availability in worksites can result in changes in eating behavior and weight status. Nemours Health and Prevention Services, in conjunction with partners in Delaware, conducted a 6-month pilot program to assess the feasibility and impact of requiring that 75% of the items in vending machines in 3 state agency buildings have healthful items.

Methods
We collected process evaluation data from October 2011 through April 2012 by taking weekly photographs of all machines to record the number of healthful items available. Outcomes were measured through sales reports designed to enumerate changes in number and type of items sold and overall profit from each building.

Results
We found challenges in fully implementing the 75% goal. In one of the 3 buildings, all machines were compliant within 7 weeks; in another, full compliance did not occur until week 19. Despite these challenges, the number of items sold in each machine was comparable to numbers from the previous year. Total profits from each building varied across the 3 sites and during the pilot. One building had a 51% increase in profits in January 2012 compared with profits averaged for January 2011 and January 2010. In contrast, monthly profit at another building fluctuated from an increase of 6% to a loss of 30%.

Conclusion
Overall, our results suggest that collaborative efforts can result in a feasible intervention with little negative influence on profits.

Acknowledgments

The authors thank the following collaborators: Michael Williams, Dr Karyl Rattay, Dr Paul Silverman, Robert Doyle, Stefanie Van Stan, Paulina Gyan, Tim Gibbs, Donna Sharp, Jill Fredel, Jennifer Wooleyhand, Jack Holloway, Rhonda Anderson, Robin Gorman, and Theresa Strawder. Financial support for the vending machine operators was provided by the Delaware Division of Public Health.

Top of Page

Author Information

Corresponding Author: Mollie Poland, MPP, Policy Analyst, Nemours Health and Prevention Services, PO Box 269, Wilmington, DE 19899. Telephone: 302-298-7648. E-mail: mollie.poland@nemours.org.

Author Affiliations: Laura Lessard, Arcadia University, Glenside, Pennsylvania, and Nemours Health and Prevention Services, Wilmington, Delaware; Mary Trotter, Nemours Health and Prevention Services, Wilmington, Delaware.

Top of Page

References

1. Prevalence and trends data: Delaware 2012 overweight and obesity (BMI). Atlanta (GA): Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Office of Surveillance, Epidemiology, and Laboratory Services Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System; 2013. http://apps.nccd.cdc.gov/brfss/display.asp?cat=OB&yr=2012&qkey=8261&state=DE. Accessed October 16, 2013.
2. Daniels SR. The consequences of childhood overweight and obesity. Future Child 2006;16(1):47–67. CrossRef PubMed
3. Deckelbaum RJ, Williams CL. Childhood obesity: the health issue. Obes Res 2001;9(Suppl 4):239S–43S. CrossRef PubMed
4. Sorensen G, Landsbergis P, Hammer L, Amick BC 3d, Linnan L, Yancey A, et al. Preventing chronic disease in the workplace: a workshop report and recommendations. Am J Public Health 2011;101(Suppl 1):S196–207. CrossRef PubMed
5. Heinen L, Darling H. Addressing obesity in the workplace: the role of employers. Milbank Q 2009;87(1):101–22. CrossRef PubMed
6. Bleich SN, Wang YC, Wang Y, Gortmaker SL. Increasing consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages among US adults: 1988–1994 to 1999–2004. Am J Clin Nutr 2009;89(1):372–81. CrossRef PubMed
7. Lawrence S, Boyle M, Craypo L, Samuels S. The food and beverage vending environment in health care facilities participating in the Healthy Eating, Active Communities program. Pediatrics 2009;123(Suppl 5):S287–92. CrossRef PubMed
8. Byrd-Bredbenner C, Johnson M, Quick VM, Walsh J, Greene GW, Hoerr S, et al. Sweet and salty. An assessment of the snacks and beverages sold in vending machines on US post-secondary institution campuses. Appetite 2012;58(3):1143–51. CrossRef PubMed
9. Healthy vending guide. Newark (DE): Nemours Health and Prevention Services; 2010. http://www.nemours.org/content/dam/nemours/www/filebox/service/preventive/nhps/resource/healthyvending.pdf. Accessed February 26, 2014.
10. Balanced Choices. Cozad (NE): VVS Canteen; 2014. http://vvscanteen.com/vending/canteen-vending-products/balanced-choices/. Accessed February 26, 2014.
11. Healthier vending machine initiatives in state facilities. Atlanta (GA): Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; 2012. http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/stateprograms/pdf/healthy_vending_machine_initiatives_in_state_facilities.pdf. Accessed October 16, 2013.
12. Health and sustainability guidelines for federal concessions and vending operations. Atlanta (GA): Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; 2012. http://www.cdc.gov/chronicdisease/resources/guidelines/food-service-guidelines.htm. Accessed October 16, 2013.
13. Linnan L, Bowling M, Childress J, Lindsay G, Blakey C, Pronk S, et al. Results of the 2004 National Worksite Health Promotion Survey. Am J Public Health 2008;98(8):1503–9. CrossRef PubMed