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Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study
Published on: February 2, 2017
BMI report cards: will they pass or fail in the fight against pediatric obesity?
E Whitney Evans1, Kendrin R Sonneville
1Division of Adolescent/Young Adult Medicine, Department of Medicine, Children's Hospital Boston, MA 02115, USA.
Insights
BMI report cards for children do not effectively improve weight status awareness or health behaviors. Evidence suggests potential harms, like increased dieting, may outweigh benefits in addressing pediatric obesity.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Pediatrics
- Health Policy
Background:
- Pediatric obesity is a significant public health concern in the USA and Europe.
- Body Mass Index (BMI) report cards are increasingly used to address childhood obesity.
- Parental underestimation of child weight status is common, leading to undiagnosed obesity in primary care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the effectiveness and potential harms of using BMI report cards in schools.
- To evaluate the impact of BMI report cards on parental awareness, health behaviors, and weight status.
- To examine the controversy surrounding school-based BMI screening initiatives.
Main Methods:
- Review of recent research findings on BMI report cards.
- Analysis of studies examining parental awareness and weight status.
- Assessment of evidence on behavioral changes and impact on weight status.
Main Results:
- BMI report cards do not consistently improve parental awareness of child weight status.
- Evidence is inconclusive regarding the impact of BMI report cards on weight-related health behaviors.
- No evidence supports BMI report cards ultimately impacting children's weight status.
- Research suggests BMI report cards may increase dieting, a risk factor for eating disorders.
Conclusions:
- Current research does not support the effectiveness of BMI report cards in reducing pediatric obesity rates.
- The potential harms associated with BMI report cards may exceed any potential benefits.
- Mandatory BMI report card policies require rigorous evaluation to assess their true impact.
Purpose Of Review:
Pediatric obesity has reached epidemic proportions in the USA and Europe. The use of BMI report cards is one approach to addressing the epidemic that is gaining popularity across the USA and in the UK.
Recent Findings:
Recent findings suggest that parents of overweight children underestimate child weight status and the majority of pediatric overweight and obesity goes undiagnosed in primary care settings in the USA. Although there is no argument against the efficacy of tracking a child's BMI and informing parents of their child's weight status, there is considerable controversy surrounding whether schools should be involved in BMI screening. Research on the efficacy of BMI report cards suggests that parental awareness of weight status is not improved by BMI report cards. Findings are inconclusive on whether BMI report cards lead to changes in weight-related health behaviors, and there is no evidence to suggest that report cards ultimately impact weight status. Additionally, research indicates that BMI report cards may increase dieting, a risk factor for both increased weight and eating disorders in adolescents.
Summary:
Research does not suggest that BMI report cards will be effective in reducing rates of pediatric overweight and obesity. Instead, recent findings show that the potential for harm may outweigh possible benefits. States and countries that mandate the use of BMI report cards should make evaluation of these policies a priority.
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