Negative health messages in schools.

Article: School health personnel recognize the importance of sending positive messages to students, faculty, staff, and the community about adopting and maintaining appropriate health lifestyle behaviors. Yet, schools often send conflicting messages. Some messages have historical precedence in schools that are difficult to ameliorate or eliminate. Nonetheless, school health personnel should identify the conflicting messages and take steps to provide support for positive health behaviors. This commentary highlights three common practices that do not support positive health behaviors: vending machines that dispense non-nutritious snacks; smoking and chewing/dipping areas for students and faculty; and fund raising activities that sell popular foods of low nutrient quality.