A Comprehensive Review of School‐Based Body Mass Index Screening Programs and Their Implications for School Health: Do the Controversies Accurately Reflect the Research?1. (January 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ruggieri, Dominique G.; Bass, Sarah B.
• Is Part Of: Journal of school health. Volume 85:Number 1(2015:Jan.)
• Page Start: 61
• Page End: 72
• Publication Date: 2015-01
• Subjects: School health services -- Periodicals; School children -- Health and hygiene -- Periodicals; Health education -- Periodicals; School Health Services -- Periodicals; Health Education -- Periodicals; 371.71
• DOI: 10.1111/josh.12222
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-4391

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="josh12222-abs-0001"> <title>ABSTRACT</title> <sec id="josh12222-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>BACKGROUND</title> <p id="josh12222-para-0001">Whereas legislation for body mass index (BMI) surveillance and screening programs has passed in 25 states, the programs are often subject to ethical debates about confidentiality and privacy, school‐to‐parent communication, and safety and self‐esteem issues for students. Despite this debate, no comprehensive analysis has been completed that compares and contrasts how these issues differentially affect schools, parents, and students.</p> </sec> <sec id="josh12222-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>METHODS</title> <p id="josh12222-para-0002">A keyword search from electronic databases a review of state legislation related to BMI surveillance screening was used to identify relevant literature data focused on surveillance screening policies, BMI report cards, parental perceptions of BMI screenings their child's weight status.</p> </sec> <sec id="josh12222-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>RESULTS</title> <p id="josh12222-para-0003">This article addresses the gap of previous literature by outlining the ethical considerations and implications that BMI screening programs and report cards have for schools, parents, and students, and links these with outcome studies to address whether these controversies are supported by research.</p> </sec> <sec id="josh12222-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>CONCLUSIONS</title> <p id="josh12222-para-0004">Despite the controversies surrounding these programs, this review shows that they can be valuable for all parties and demonstrates BMI screening programs to be vital to the development of robust school‐based obesity prevention programs and promotion of healthy lifestyles in schools.</p> </sec> </abstract>