School Provision of Universal Free Meals and Blood Pressure Outcomes Among Youths
This cohort study of schools matched to child and adolescent patient medical records from a large network of community health organizations found that school participation in the Community Eligibility Provision was associated with a net reduction in blood pressure outcomes. These findings add to mounting evidence that universal free school meals may be associated with improved child health.
Authors
- Jessica C. Jones‐Smith (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8962-1695)
- Anna M. Localio (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4270-4052)
- Melissa A. Knox (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7525-0854)
- Jennifer Sonney
- Aileen Ochoa
- Wyatt P. Bensken (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2597-9732)
- Paul L. Hebert (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5886-7964)
Institutions
- University of Washington (US)
- Society for Public Health Education (US)
- Health Services Research & Development (US)
- VA Puget Sound Health Care System (US)
- Ochin (US)
- Institute of Population and Public Health (CA)
Publication Details
- Journal
- JAMA Network Open
- Published
- 2025-09-25
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.33186
- Citations
- 3
- Primary Topic
- Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 5.64
Funders
- Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute
- University of Washington
- National Institutes of Health
- Center for Studies in Demography and Ecology, University of Washington
- National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
- Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development