The Effect of School Food and Beverage Regulations on Student Food Consumption Behavior in Secondary Schools: A Systematic Review

Background/Objectives: Schools are a strategic setting where adolescents spend much of their day, shaping eating behaviors. Within the Social Ecological Model, food consumption reflects interactions across individual, interpersonal, organizational, and policy levels; school regulations are a structural, organizational-level intervention. This systematic review synthesized evidence on the association between school food and beverage regulations and food consumption among secondary school students.

Methods

Following PRISMA 2020, we searched Scopus, ScienceDirect, PubMed, and Google Scholar for observational studies published between January 2015 and December 2025. Using the Population, Exposure, Outcome, and Study (PEOS) framework, we included studies of students aged 10-19 years exposed to formal school food and beverage regulations with food consumption outcomes. Two reviewers independently screened studies, extracted data, and appraised quality using JBI Critical Appraisal Tools.