Lack of Funding, Competing Priorities Affect Schools' Ability to Offer Healthy Food, Fitness to Students

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation has published research on efforts by California school districts to encourage healthy eating and physical fitness among its students.


Findings from online surveys and focus groups, as well as interviews with school board members, leaders of state associations of school boards, state directors of nutrition and school wellness advocates
identified the following as the most significant barriers to effective school wellness policies:

• Inadequate funding, such as for staff and facilities, to implement and monitor a policy.
• Competing priorities and lack of time.
• Lack of support from students, parents and the community.
• A need for tools and training.