ERIC Number: EJ885807
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2003
Pages: 9
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1059-8405
EISSN: N/A
Measures of Overweight Status in School-Age Children
Skybo, Theresa; Ryan-Wenger, Nancy
Journal of School Nursing, v19 n3 p172-180 2003
Identifying and intervening with overweight children may decrease their likelihood of developing heart disease later in life. This secondary analysis of 58 children in the 3rd grade examined the prevalence of overweight children, methods for measuring overweight status, and the relationship among these measures and other risk factors for heart disease. Approximately one third of the 58 children were categorized as overweight. Several measures, such as weight, body fat percentage, body mass index (BMI), and skin-fold, are available to school nurses for measuring overweight status. The highest correlations were between BMI and weight and between BMI and body fat. Anthropometric measurements cannot predict cholesterol level, 24-hour diet recall, or family history. Blood pressure can be predicted by weight, body fat percentage, and BMI. BMI and body fat percentage highly correlate; however, body fat percentage is more liberal in identifying children at risk for overweight status. Therefore, body fat percentage is recommended for identification of overweight status in school-age children. (Contains 5 tables.)
Descriptors: Obesity, Body Composition, Heart Disorders, School Nurses, Measurement Techniques, Elementary School Students, Incidence, At Risk Persons, Body Weight, Measures (Individuals), Hypertension
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Elementary Education; Grade 3
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A