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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Martha Y. Kubik, PhD, RN, School of Nursing, University of Minnesota, 6101 Weaver Densford Hall, 308 Harvard St SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, 6126250606, kubik002@umn.edu, Mary Story, PhD, RD, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, 1300 South 2nd Street, Suite 300, Minneapolis, MN 55454, and Gayle Rieland, MS, RN, LSN, Director of Health Services, District #191, 200 W Burnsville Pkwy, Burnsville, MN 55337.

School-based body mass index (BMI) screening and parent notification programs have been advanced as an obesity prevention strategy. However, little is known about how to develop and implement programs. This qualitative study explored the opinions and beliefs of parents of elementary school students regarding school-based BMI screening programs, notification methods, message content and health information needs related to promoting healthy weight for school-aged children. Ten focus groups were conducted with 71 participants. Parents were generally supportive of school-based BMI screening. However, they wanted assurance that student privacy and respect would be maintained during measurement and that BMI results would be provided to parents in a neutral manner that avoided weight labeling. They also believed that aggregate results should be disseminated to the larger school community in order to support healthy change in the nutrition and physical activity environments of schools. Implications for school practitioners and researchers will be discussed.

Learning Objectives: Participants will

• describe components of a successful school-based BMI screening and parent notification program
• discuss challenges associated with school-based screening and articulate strategies to address challenges.

Keywords: School-Based Programs, Obesity

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation