School Provision of Universal Free Meals and Blood Pressure Outcomes Among Youths

Is school participation in the Community Eligibility Provision, a universal free school meals policy, associated with childhood blood pressure outcomes?In this cohort study of 1052 schools matched to medical records from 155 778 patients receiving care from community health organizations, Community Eligibility Provision participation was associated with an 11% net reduction over 5 years in proportion of patients with a high blood pressure measurement.These findings suggest that universal free school meals policies such as the Community Eligibility Provision may be associated with improved population health.

Corresponding Author: Anna M. Localio, PhD, MPH, Department of Health Systems and Population Health, University of Washington School of Public Health, Hans Rosling Center for Population Health, 3980 15th Ave NE, Box 351621, Seattle, WA 98195 (alocalio@uw.edu).

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