Did We Get What We Expected? Measuring Body Mass Index in Schools

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that over a third of children and two-thirds of adults in the United States are overweight or obese and that these proportions have been increasing dramatically over recent decades. This trend, now considered to be an epidemic, has led a number of state legislatures and school districts to consider regular measurement of body mass index (BMI) for school children. This presentation will outline the various outcomes that are envisioned by those who promote school-based BMI measurement -- e.g., initiation of dialog, increased parental awareness, parental response, or policy change. Further, we will consider whether these outcomes may be realistic, in light of the Arkansas experience. Arkansas Act 1220 of 2003 mandated, among other things, annual BMI measurements for all public school students in the state and reporting of BMI measurements to parents. Subsequent and ongoing evaluation has included the assessmetn of changes in knowledge, attitudes, behaviors, policies, and environments in schools and families throughout the state. Interviews with stakeholders have been completed annually. Data from the four years of evaluation will be presented, with a discussion of the impact to date of Arkansas Act 1220, compared to expectations of state policy-makers. Implications and likely impacts of school-based BMI measurement in other settings will also be considered.