As I wrote yesterday, schools have banned certain foods and beverages from vending machines, made school breakfasts and lunches more nutritious, and prohibited certain businesses from opening near schools, but none of these approaches have been successful.

Now there is even more evidence that schools cannot do much to combat childhood obesity.  The January issue of Sociology of Education featured a study that concluded that junk food at school did not contribute to weight gain in fifth- and eighth-grade students.  According to the website Medical Xpress,

The authors found that 59.2 percent of fifth graders and 86.3 percent of eighth graders in their study attended schools that sold junk food. But, while there was a significant increase in the percentage of students who attended schools that sold junk food between fifth and eighth grades, there was no rise in the percentage of students who were overweight or obese. In fact, despite the increased availability of junk food, the percentage of students who were overweight or obese actually decreased from fifth grade to eighth grade, from 39.1 percent to 35.4 percent.

Of course, the authors of the study urged policymakers to “concentrate” their anti-obesity efforts on home, family, and community environments.  Perhaps this will include activity monitors for husky kids and other intrusive measures.

On an unrelated note, the Penn State researchers volunteered some interesting information about the process of publishing the study: “We were really surprised by that result and, in fact, we held back from publishing our study for roughly two years because we kept looking for a connection that just wasn’t there.”

Why hold back on submitting the study for publication?  Did they spend two years of tinkering with the data and analysis to try to achieve an outcome consistent with their hypothesis?  Were they embarrassed to publish a study that contradicts a widely held belief?  Were they afraid that their ideological/political allies or peers would spurn them?  Is this a reflection of the insularity of the academy?