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Nadia J. Siddiqui, MPH¹, Delia West, PhD¹, Martha M. Phillips, PhD, MPH, MBA², Zoran Bursac, PhD¹, and James M. Raczynski, PhD¹. (1) College of Public Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 4301 West Markham St, Slot 820, Little Rock, AR 72205, (2) Division of Health, Center for Public Health Practice, Arkansas Department of Health & Human Services, 4815 West Markham Street, PO Box 1437, Slot H-32, Little Rock, AR 72203-1437, 501-661-2255, Martha.Phillips@arkansas.gov

School-based body mass index (BMI) screening incited considerable debate with concerns raised about unintentional adverse consequences, particularly increased weight-based teasing. Initial 1-year follow-up revealed that no significant increases in weight-based teasing occurred after schools in Arkansas initiated BMI screening, even among overweight children. Unadjusted weight-based teasing decreased from 14.0% at baseline before screening to 12.7% at 1-year follow-up after the first screening (p<.0001), a change that became non-significant after adjustment for covariates. Among overweight children, a slight increase (3.0%) in weight-based teasing was observed at 1-year follow-up; however, after covariate adjustment, this change was also non-significant. Additional years of follow-up data will address continuing concern about the long-term impact of BMI screening on weight-based teasing. Two-year follow-up data will soon be available (May, 2006) from the repeated cross-sectional surveys of parents of public school students (pre-K - 10) which have been conducted as they were at baseline and 1-year follow-up using random digit dialing methods, assessing child weight, height and history of teasing due to weight. We will determine and present changes in weight-based teasing from these 2-year follow-up data and measure associations between teasing and covariates (e.g. weight status, gender, race, age, and teased for other reasons). Chi-squared tests will assess bivariate associations, and logistic regressions will be used to determine multivariate associations. Trends in weight-based teasing, as well as teasing due to weight in vulnerable subgroups, will be examined over the 2-year period. Implications of weight-based teasing and consequences for consideration of BMI screening policies will be discussed.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify what happens to weight-based teasing after schools conduct annual BMI screenings.
• Recognize subgroups of children most vulnerable to weight-based teasing.
• Articulate the implications of weight-based teasing and consequences for consideration of BMI screening policies.

Keywords: Obesity, School Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No