Parents of Elementary School Students Weigh in on Height, Weight, and Body Mass Index Screening at School

Autor/inn/en	Kubik, Martha Y.; Fulkerson, Jayne A.; Story, Mary; Rieland, Gayle
Titel	Parents of Elementary School Students Weigh in on Height, Weight, and Body Mass Index Screening at School
Quelle	In: Journal of School Health, 76 (2006) 10, S.496-501 (6 Seiten)Infoseite zur Zeitschrift PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	0022-4391
DOI	10.1111/j.1746-1561.2006.00147.x
Schlagwörter	Body Composition; Parent Attitudes; Parents; Elementary School Students; Suburban Schools; Body Height; Body Weight; Prevention; Quasiexperimental Design; Surveys; Program Effectiveness; Obesity + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Elternverhalten; Eltern; Suburban area; Outskirts; Suburb; School; Schools; Vorort; Vorstadt; Schule; Körpergröße; Körpergewicht; Prävention; Vorbeugung; Survey; Umfrage; Befragung; Adipositas
Abstract	School-based body mass index (BMI) screening and parent notification programs have been recommended as a childhood overweight prevention strategy. However, there are little empirical data available to guide decision making about the acceptability and safety of programs. A pilot study was conducted using a quasiexperimental research design. In fall 2004, children in 4 suburban elementary schools (kindergarten to sixth grade) in the St Paul/Minneapolis, MN, metropolitan area completed height/weight screening. The following spring, parents in 2 schools received letters containing height/weight and BMI results. A self-administered post-only survey examined parents' opinions and beliefs regarding school-based BMI screening and parent notification programs (response rate: 790/1133 = 70%). The X[squared] test of significance was used to examine differences in program support by treatment condition, child's weight status, and sociodemographic characteristics. Among all parents, 78% believed it was important for schools to assess students' height/weight annually and wanted to receive height, weight, and BMI information yearly. Among parents receiving the letter, 95% read most/all of the letter. Most parents (80%) and children (83%) reported comfort with the information in the letter. Parents of overweight children were more likely to report parental discomfort as well as child discomfort with letter content. There was considerable parental support for school-based BMI screening and parent notification programs. Programs may be a useful overweight prevention tool for children. However, continued attention to how best to support parents and children affected by overweight is required. (Author).
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Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2017/4/10