BACKGROUND
Obesity in children and adolescents has become one of the most critical public health problems in the United States. Schools may play an important role in raising awareness and possibly slowing the obesity epidemic.
METHODS
The purpose of this study was to gather information on parents' perception and use of body mass index (BMI) report cards provided by public schools through the administration of a questionnaire. The questionnaire was developed with the assistance of physical educators, pediatricians, and exercise scientists. The questionnaires were backpacked home with 1127 students in 6 Arkansas public schools. Parents completed and returned 404 questionnaires.
RESULTS
Findings indicate that parents are supportive of schools reporting BMI and providing information on healthier lifestyles. However, most parents reported not making any adjustment to their child's diet and physical activity habits based on the BMI reports. Approximately half of parents (55%) thought the BMI report accurately reflected their child's health status. Approximately half of the parents reported their child's BMI report led them to think about their family's health habits.
CONCLUSIONS
Although parents do support receiving BMI information from schools, many did not indicate using the data to initiate changes such as increased physical activity or healthy eating.
In 2003, Arkansas became the first state to require body mass index (BMI) testing in public schools to raise awareness of the growing obesity epidemic among children and adolescents. Limited information exists regarding the effectiveness of school-based BMI screening programs. The purpose of this study was to determine if BMI health report cards affected parents' knowledge or actions regarding their child's health and to determine the accuracy of parents' perceptions of their child as underweight, normal weight, or overweight according to their child's BMI. A questionnaire was developed with the help of physical educators, pediatricians, and exercise scientists to determine parents' perceptions and behaviors regarding BMI report cards. The questionnaire was distributed to parents/guardians of children who sought medical care at two pediatrician's offices in Arkansas. Based on responses to survey questions, parents are not making changes to their child's diet and exercise habits if their child is classified as "at risk" or "overweight." However, parents did report that BMI health report cards are influencing their knowledge about their child's health. The majority of parents in the study (approximately 66%) did not accurately perceive their child's BMI category.
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