Parental concern about child weight and interest in school nurse-led healthy weight management programming

Background: In many schools, school nurses screen students' height/weight and report body mass index information to parents. However, little is known about parent interest in school-based, school nurse-led programming targeting healthy weight management. Purpose: To examine associations between parental concern about child weight and child weight status and parental interest in school-based, school nurse-led weight management programs. Significance: Overweight children have increased health-care costs over their lifetime. Achieving and maintaining a healthy weight can reduce costs and contribute to chronic disease prevention. Methodology: In one large Minnesota school district, surveys (n=282) were mailed to a sample of randomly selected parents of 2nd and 4th grade students who completed school-based height/weight screening in 2010-2011. Among respondents (n=104; 65% White/Caucasian parents; 51% parents of boys and 37% with overweight child), parental concern about weight and interest in school nurse-led programming were assessed using descriptive statistics and Chi square tests. Findings/Results: Compared to parents with a normal weight child, those with an overweight child reported more concern about the child's weight (28% versus 62%, p<.01). More parents reporting concern about their child's weight versus those without concern were interested in a school nurse-led after school weight management program (77% versus 39%, p<.01), counseling with a school nurse (63% versus 40%, p=.03), and attending a school nurse-led parent support group (58% versus 38%, p=.06). Conclusions/Recommendations: Parents concerned about their child's weight were interested in school-based, school nurse-led healthy weight management programming. Research evaluating the feasibility and effectiveness of such programs merit attention.