OBESITY IN MISSISSIPPI

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moving forward - Policy InitiativesPolicy Initiative No. 8Require Schools to ProvideBMI (Body Mass Index) Reportsto ParentsAt time ofpublication, 16states screenstudents’BMI or fitnessstatus andconfidentiallyprovideinformationto parents orguardians.THE CHALLENGEBody Mass Index (BMI) is a ratio of weight and height thatalso accounts for gender and age. A BMI assessment classifies achild as underweight, normal weight, overweight, or obese. It is auseful screening tool and a relatively efficient method for estimatingrates of overweight and obese children.The CDC advises that to reduce the risk of harming students, BMImeasurement programs should adhere to the following safeguards:• Introduce the program to school staff and community members andobtain parental consent.• Train staff in administering the program (ideally, implementation willbe led by a highly qualified staff member, such as the school nurse).• Establish safeguards to protect student privacy.• Obtain and use accurate equipment.• Accurately calculate and interpret the data.• Develop efficient data-collection procedures.• Avoid using BMI results to evaluate student or teacher performance.• Regularly evaluate the program and itsintended outcomes and unintended consequences.NATIONAL SUCCESSArkansas pioneered the useof annual, confidential reportingof students’ BMI to parents.The Arkansas Center for HealthImprovement (ACHI) developeda system for gathering BMIassessments and deliveringindividualized, confidential ChildHealth Reports to parents ofchildren in public schools. Thefirst year data collection was apaper-based system, and ACHIeventually developed a web-baseddata entry system for schools touse. ACHI then took the electronicentry of data and automatedgeneration of Child HealthReports statewide, eliminatingdependence on paper exchangeof information and reducing costsand potential error rates.66%of Mississippi adultssupport requiringBMI assessmentof children.A number of concerns had beenexpressed about school-basedBMI screening, including that itmight stigmatize students, leadto harmful behaviors, couldbe ineffective, and distractattention from other school-basedobesity prevention activities. In2007, Arkansas modified statelaw to specify the protocolto be followed by school andnursing staff in performing theassessments. Now, parents areprovided a way to opt out of theassessments in writing if they donot wish to have their childrenparticipate. The new protocolalso reduces the frequency ofassessments to biennially in evengrades K-10.32
A project funded by the POWER initiativeThe methods and charts used forcalculating BMI in children ages 2 to 19differ greatly from those used for adults.Children’s measurements must take theircontinued growth into account.Growth charts and BMI informationfor children can be found on theCenters For Disease Control and Prevention websitewww.cdc.gov/growthcharts/clinical_charts.htm33
Page 1 and 2: OBESITY IN MISSISSIPPIa report comp
Page 3 and 4: TABLE OF CONTENTS4 | Introduction &
Page 5 and 6: Finding an AnswerOverweight adolesc
Page 7 and 8: A GROWING PROBLEMNationally, childh
Page 9 and 10: What is Mississippi Doing?Thanks to
Page 11 and 12: A project funded by the POWER initi
Page 15 and 16: Moving forwardWith the measurements
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Page 39 and 40: SEEKING ACTIONEach of Mississippi
Page 41 and 42: A project funded by the POWER grant
Page 48: Report compiled by theMississippi D

OBESITY IN MISSISSIPPI

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