(P31-056-23) Characterizing Indonesian School Food Canteens: Implications for Childhood Obesity Programs and Policies

Objectives: Childhood obesity is a worldwide public health concern, with Indonesia expected to have the fourth-highest number of obese children globally (9,076,416) by 2030. In Indonesia, roughly 30% of children’s dietary intake comes from school vendors (canteens), most of which offer an abundance of high calorie foods and lack oversight as to the healthfulness of foods sold. The objectives of this study were to (1) identify the composition and preparation of foods sold in Indonesian primary schools; and (2) suggest strategies for a pilot intervention trial to be conducted in Yogyakarta, Indonesia for reducing obesity risk among schoolchildren.

Methods: From December 2022 to January 2023, formative data were collected from primary schools (n=5) in Yogyakarta, utilizing a combined interviewing and direct observation approach to understand each school’s characteristics, foods sold, and vendor information. Vendors (n=7) were surveyed to determine their foods’ preparation methods, food groups, main ingredients, and macronutrients.

Results: Of the five schools visited, 3 were private, 2 were public, and all were in an urban location. There was a median of one vendor (range: 1-2) per school, with most food items prepared off-premises by parents. Of all prepared food items sold (n=69), 71% were “main meals”, 16% were desserts, and 13% were drinks. A majority of non-beverage foods (n=60) were deep-fried (58%). A compositional analysis of each item’s ingredients revealed that 43% did not contain any complete proteins and 90% did not have any vegetables. Public schools had a higher prevalence of complete protein-containing items than private schools (82% vs. 42%; p< 0.01).

Conclusions: Most prepared foods sold in our sample of Indonesian primary schools do not meet the Indonesian government’s Balanced Nutrition Guidelines for limited consumption of “fatty” foods and increasing high protein and vegetable intake. Thus, strategies involving education around healthier cooking techniques for canteen foods, and increased vegetable and protein availability in school canteens, could serve as the basis for an effective pilot intervention toward reducing obesity risk among Indonesian schoolchildren.

Funding Sources: No funding was received for this research. IRB approval was received from Alma Ata University IRB.