Elizabeth E. Siddens, BA¹, Diane J. Sprowl, MEd, RD, LD², Dennis Chaney, MPA³, Lisa C. Sowders, BS¹, Tammy R. Sanders, BSN, RN⁴, and Ariel Lapena Sarmiento, BA, MPH(c)⁵. (1) Health Information Branch, Barren River District Health Department, P.O. Box 1157, Bowling Green, KY 42102-1157, 270-781-8039 ext. 146, ElizabethE.Siddens@ky.gov, (2) Coordinator for SAPO Teams, Barren River District Health Department, P.O. Box 1157, Bowling Green, KY 42102-1157, (3) Barren River District Health Department, Public Health Director, P.O. Box 1157, Bowling Green, KY 42102, (270) 781-8039 x 131, dennisr.chaney@ky.gov, (4) Surveillance, Assessment, Planning and Outcomes (SAPO) Team 2, Barren County Health Department, P.O. Box 1464, Glasgow, KY 42142-1464, (5) Department of Public Health, Western Kentucky University, One Big Red Way, Bowling Green, KY 42101

Despite being a national issue, childhood overweight is poorly documented at the local level, especially in rural communities. Community partners often see national data as irrelevant to their situation. A district health department in South-central Kentucky has begun to document local prevalence, using data from school physicals that are mandatory for public school enrollment. This study documented the local prevalence of childhood overweight, and provided baseline data for future evaluation of related interventions.Methodology: Kentucky schools students must show evidence of a recent physical exam prior to initial enrollment and sixth grade entry. For 2002-03 school year, school personnel recorded each student’s age, gender, race, height and weight from physical exam forms for all kindergarteners (N= 878) and 6th graders (N=1414) in four counties. Health department staff compiled this data and computed Body Mass Index (BMI) for each child. They shared their analysis with schools, and subsequently with community partners. Initial Results: Classifying schoolchildren by BMI, 33.6% of kindergarteners and 49% of 6th graders were either at risk for overweight (³85th percentile) or were overweight (³95th percentile). Chi-square analysis showed that 6th graders were significantly (p<. 001) more likely to be either at risk for overweight or overweight than kindergarteners. Conclusion: This initiative contributed to the formation of four community coalitions to address childhood overweight. School officials are exploring policy and ecological changes. Public health officials see the value of harvesting data from existing sources. It is relatively simple and the average health department has ability to build this dataset.

Learning Objectives: At the end of the session, the participant (learner) will be able to

• recognize a method to assess childhood overweight in their own health district setting; 2)create baseline data on schoolchildren’s BMI for evaluating related interventions 3)galvanize community support around childhood overweight as a health issue that affects the entire community.

Keywords: School Health, Obesity

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.