221932 Body mass index prevalence estimates of a statewide monitoring initiative in Idaho

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

David R. Paul, PhD , Department of Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID
Philip Scruggs, PhD , Department of Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID
Grace Goc Karp, PhD , Movement Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID
Lynda Ransdell, PhD, FACSM, CSCS , Department of Kinesiology, Boise State University, Boise, ID
Clay Robinson, PhD , Division of Education, Lewis and Clark State College, Lewiston, ID
Mike Lester, EdD , Department of Sport Science and Physical Education, Idaho State University, Pocatello, ID
Laura Jones Petranek, PhD , Department of Kinesiology, Boise State University, Boise, ID
Helen Brown, RD, MPH , Department of Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID
Terry-Ann Gibson, PhD , Department of Kinesiology, Boise State University, Boise, ID
Jane Shimon, EdD, AT, C , Department of Kinesiology, Boise State University, Boise, ID
Tyler Johnson, PhD , Department of Kinesiology, Boise State University, Boise, ID
John Fitzpatrick, PhD , Department of Sport Science and Physical Education, Idaho State University, Pocatello, ID
Kathy Browder, PhD , Department of Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID
Zambak Sahin, PhD , Department of Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID
Given the significant health consequences associated with childhood obesity, many states have developed legislation to initiate school-based obesity monitoring programs. Idaho is one of many states without a monitoring program, so collaborations between the State Department of Education and four state universities were developed to institute a body mass index (BMI) monitoring program in grades 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11. The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of race/ethnicity, school size, school type, socioeconomic status (SES; estimated by school participation in free and reduced school lunch programs (FRSL)), and region on BMI prevalence. Measurements were taken by trained personnel who travelled to each school to measure body mass (via digital scale) and stature (via stadiometer). A total of 5,242 students (2,427 girls and 2,815 boys) from 40 different schools and 32 different communities in all six regions of the state were measured. The prevalence of overweight and obesity was 30.5%, ranging from 24.3% for grade 1 to 33.0% for grade 7. Significantly more males were obese than females (p<0.0001), particularly in adolescents (p<0.0001). Schools with larger numbers of low SES students (>60% FRSL participation) had significantly higher percentages of obese students (19.5%) compared to the schools with the lowest FRSL participation (10.0%)(p<0.0001). Prevalence of obesity by community was highly variable (10-50%), indicating that where students attend school may be important. This investigation demonstrates not only the status of obesity in a large state-wide sample, but the feasibility of a multi-institutional school-based obesity monitoring program.

Learning Areas:
Administer health education strategies, interventions and programs
Epidemiology
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Public health or related research

Learning Objectives:
1) Describe the feasibility of a school-based statewide obesity monitoring program 2) Demonstrate the trends in obesity in the state of Idaho 3) Evaluate the influence of community-related factors in the development of childhood obesity

Keywords: Obesity, Children and Adolescents

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am qualified because I was responsible for the initiation of the project, data collection, and data analysis
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.