Accuracy of School Staff‐Measured Height and Weight Used for Body Mass Index Screening and Reporting. (28th May 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Thompson, Hannah R.; Linchey, Jennifer K.; King, Benjamin; Himes, John H.; Madsen, Kristine A.
• Is Part Of: Journal of school health. Volume 89:Number 8(2019)
• Page Start: 629
• Page End: 635
• Publication Date: 2019-05-28
• Subjects: body mass index (BMI) -- screening and reporting -- measurement -- school nurses -- physical education teachers; 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.12788
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-4391

Abstract

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: The accuracy of students' heights and weights measured by school staff for body mass index (BMI) screening/reporting has not been established. This study examined school staffs' measurement accuracy, comparing accuracy by staff‐ and student‐level characteristics. METHODS: School staff and researchers measured the height and weight of 1008 4th–8th grade students, within 1 month of each other. Bland–Altman plots, mean differences, and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) were calculated to examine measurement accuracy. Linear mixed effects models assessed accuracy by staff‐ and student‐level characteristics. RESULTS: Bland–Altman plots revealed no appreciable bias in differences between researcher and staff measurements. The mean absolute difference between researcher and school staff measurements were 1.0 ± 1.6 cm (height), 0.7 ± 1.8 kg (weight), and 0.4 ± 0.8 kg/m 2 (BMI). Inter‐rater ICC values were ≥0.97, demonstrating "excellent" reliability. Categorical weight status was correctly classified for 94% of students (kappa 0.90), and for 96% with a BMI ≥95th% (kappa 0.94). Physical education (PE) teachers were slightly less accurate than school nurses in measuring height (0.4 cm less accurate; p = .045) and weight (0.4 kg; p = .015). CONCLUSIONS: School staff conducted height/weight measurements on 4th–8th grade students with high accuracy. Resultant school‐based BMI reports using similar protocols should validly reflect weight status for almost all students.