Partnering with school nurses to address childood obesity

Background: The increase in prevalence of childhood obesity has prompted child health authorities to propose mandates focusing on population health efforts implemented in public schools. In 2010, the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act was legislated, reinforcing the 2004 regulations for school districts to develop and implement school wellness policies. Methods: The purpose of this secondary data analysis was an examination of the associations of implementation of the school wellness policy and school nurse activities to the absolute change in percent of students with body mass index in the obese weight category between the school years 2005-2006 and 2008-2009. The methodological approach used correlational and ordinary least squares regression analyses. Results: School nurse activities were significantly associated with the absolute change in percent of students with body mass index in the obese weight category between the 2005-2006 and 2008-2009 school years. After adjusting for demographic variables, for every point increase in school nurse activities there was 0.16% (p < .05) absolute change in percent obese, indicating a reduction in the percent of students in the obese weight category. The upper fourth quartile of school nurse activities was associated with a nearly 3% (p < .05) absolute change in percent of students with body mass index in the obese weight category when compared to the first quartile. Conclusions: Although further research is needed, this study may increase the awareness of child health experts, policymakers and stakeholders to the importance of school nursing and its research in promoting child health and reducing childhood obesity.