Public health extras: News on school start times, food labeling

Few schools follow guides on start times

Middle and high school students are getting too little sleep, which is associated with risky health behaviors and poor academic performance.

In a study published Aug. 7 in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, researchers found that fewer than one in five middle and high schools in the U.S. began at the recommended 8:30 a.m. starting time or later during the 2011-2012 school year. To conduct the study, researchers examined survey data from nearly 40,000 schools. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends middle and high schools modify their start times so students can get enough sleep — between 8.5 and 9.5 hours — to maintain their health, safety and academic performance. Among the states, Louisiana had the earliest average school start time, while Alaska had the latest.

Insufficient sleep is associated with being overweight, drinking alcohol, smoking tobacco and using drugs as well as poor academic performance.

FDA proposes labeling for added sugars

The ubiquitous Nutrition Facts label may soon include added sugars, if a U.S. Food and Drug Administration proposal becomes a reality.

In July, FDA proposed including the percent daily value for added sugars to the Nutrition Facts label on packaged foods. The value would be based on the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee recommendation that a person’s daily intake of calories stemming from added sugars not exceed 10 percent of total calories. The recent proposal is a supplement to a 2014 proposed rule to include added sugars on food labels; however, the earlier proposal did not specify that added sugars would be defined in a percent-daily-value context.

In an FDA news release, the agency noted that its proposal is supported by research showing that eating less sugar-sweetened foods and beverages is associated with a lower risk of heart disease.

The proposed rule was published in the Federal Register in July, and public comments are being accepted through Oct. 13. For more information, visit www.fda.gov.