The arkansas general assembly passed act 1220 of 2003 requiring every public school student to have an annual body mass index bmi assessment performed. 31 nationwide 40 of schools reported that they measure the height and weight or body mass of their students.
About Child Amp Teen Bmi Healthy Weight Nutrition And
Body mass index measurement in schools. Its a simple little tool thats been used by doctors for decades but the system of measuring body mass index or bmi is increasingly coming under fire. Body mass index measurement in schools. Epub 2011 may 31. School based body mass index bmi screening has been recommended to address pediatric obesity and recent reports suggest that approximately 25 of states require bmi measurement in schools 56. 31 the study did not determine. Body mass index measurement in schools article external icon pdf 239kb this article describes the purpose of school based bmi measurement programs summarizes the research and recommends safeguards for schools choosing to engage in this practice.
An expert panel convened by the centers for disease control and prevention cdc in 2005 reviewed and provided expertise on an earlier version of this article. The cdcs 2006 school health policies and programs study found that 22 of states required schools or school districts to measure or assess students height and weight or body mass and 73 of those states required parent notification of the results. As required by act 1220 of 2003 student body mass index bmi measurements are taken by a trained school or student health professional. Provide all parents with a clear and respectful explanation of the bmi results and a list of appropriate follow up actions. Body mass index bmi measurement in schools safeguard 10. Schoolbased body mass index bmi measurement has attracted much attention across the nation from researchers school officials legislators and the media as a potential approach to address obesity among youth.
Student bmi results can be sent to parents by secure means such as by mail and not brought home by students. School based body mass index bmi measurement has attracted much attention across the nation from researchers school officials legislators and the media as a potential approach to. The measurement process is conducted privately with results entered into a secure web based computer system capable of generating individual confidential child health reports for parents. J public health dent. Bmi measurement in schools executive summary pdf icon pdf 2 mb. Partnering with oral.
This fact sheet summarizes the history of the bmi initiative describes the measurement process and provides examples of reporting and data applications. States may also be screening for bmi or more generally body composition through comprehensive fitness assessments.
Gallery of Body Mass Index Measurement In Schools
