LCHAY's mission is to prevent childhood obesity and related diseases, in Lane County

Orandum est ut sit mens sana in corpore sano “A healthy mind in a healthy body”
             -Hippocrates

BMI Data Collection Project

A Partnership between LCHAY, Lane County Public Health Department and

University of Oregon’s Department of Anthropology

 
Little objective data is available on the prevalence of childhood obesity in Lane County.  National childhood obesity epidemic trends may or may not reflect the nutritional health status of Lane County school-age children.

In 2006, the partnership collaborated with 56% of the 16 school districts in Lane County to obtain student body mass index (BMI). Student identification numbers were assigned to protect privacy and ensure confidentiality.

The following information was collected:
•    Date of examination
•    Birth date
•    Height
•    Weight
•    Sex
•    Grade
•    Ethnicity information was optional

Though some recently submitted school data has not been analyzed yet, to date approximately 35% of all the public kindergarten through 8th grade students in Lane County have participated. This represents more than 10,000 children.

Using the Center for Disease Control's values to interpret the BMI results, the following statistics were obtained on the participating student population:  2% were underweight, 61% were in the normal weight range, 18% were in the "at risk for overweight" range, and 19% were in the overweight range.

With a national childhood obesity prevalence of 16% in the 6-12 year old age category, our results demonstrate that Lane County exceeds the national rate for childhood obesity.   

It is recognized that an elevated BMI does not always mean that an individual is overweight. Interpretation and guidance by a school nurse and/or community health provider is essential.

Our expectation is that county childhood BMI statistics- as a measure of overweight- will provide the concrete information decision makers need to work toward policy changes at the school and community level to favorably impact childhood obesity prevention.

What is BMI?

 Body Mass Index (BMI) is a number calculated from a child’s weight and height. BMI does not measure body fat directly, but is considered a reliable indicator of body fatness for most children and teens. BMI can be considered an alternative for direct measures of body fat. Additionally, BMI is an inexpensive and easy-to-perform method of screening for weight categories that may lead to health problems.
For children and teens, BMI is age- and sex-specific and is often referred to as BMI-for-age.

How is BMI used with children and teens?

BMI is used as a screening tool to identify possible weight problems for children. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommend the use of BMI to screen for overweight in children beginning at 2 years old.
   For children, BMI is used to screen for overweight, at risk of overweight, or underweight. However, BMI is not a diagnostic tool. For example, a child may have a high BMI for age and sex, but to determine if excess fat is a problem, a health care provider would need to perform further assessments. These assessments might include skinfold thickness measurements, evaluations of diet, physical activity, family history, and other appropriate health screenings.

Source: Dept. Health and Human Services Centers for Disease Control and Prevention