• About this study
• Findings

The Big Eat In Follow-Up Study

About the study

This study aimed to assess what made lunchtime stay-on-site policies successful and sustainable in junior secondary schools in Glasgow.

It is a follow-up to our earlier evaluation of the Big Eat In lunchtime stay-on-site intervention and part of a wider project to understand what role schools can play in tackling child obesity and unhealthy eating.

We found:

• Overall, school lunchtime stay-on-site policies were perceived as a successful way of tackling unhealthy eating, particularly by school staff.
• If stay-on-site policies are to be successful, resources for lunchtime activities should be considered and an encouragement rather than an enforcement approach should be used.

Read further findings here.

Read the full report.

Potential policy impact

In light of the success of individual lunchtime stay-in-school initiatives such as those explored in this study, the Scottish Government's 'Route Map Towards Healthy Weight' has called for policy responses that go beyond individual initiatives and recognise the success of school-based promotion of healthy eating.

Method

We interviewed school staff and conducted focus groups with pupils in four Glasgow secondary schools: two had been involved in the Big Eat In pilot and two had recently established their own stay-on-site policies.

Of interest: