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Updated: Aug 6, 2026
09:36
Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study
Published on: February 2, 2017
School-Level Body Mass Index Shapes Children's Weight Trajectories
1Chapman University, One University Drive, Orange, CA 92866.
The Journal of School Health
|November 5, 2018
Summary
Children attending schools with higher obesity rates gain more weight annually. This highlights the impact of the school environment on childhood obesity and the need for school-based interventions.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric health
- Public health
- Environmental influences on child development
Background:
- Childhood obesity is a growing public health concern.
- Environmental factors significantly impact children's weight trajectories.
- The school environment, specifically the prevalence of obesity, may influence individual children's weight status.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between school-level obesity rates and children's weight status.
- To determine if attending schools with higher body mass index (BMI) prevalence affects children's weight trajectories from kindergarten to fifth grade.
Main Methods:
- Utilized 5 waves of the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten Class of 1998-1999 (ECLS-K).
- Employed multilevel growth models to analyze weight status over time.
- Controlled for child, family, and school sociodemographic characteristics.
Main Results:
- Children in schools with higher obesity prevalence showed increased weight gain over time.
- This effect was statistically significant and amplified annually.
- The association persisted even after accounting for individual and family factors.
Conclusions:
- The overall weight status within a school environment significantly influences children's weight trajectories.
- School-based obesity prevention and intervention programs are crucial for mitigating childhood obesity.
- Environmental contexts within schools play a vital role in shaping children's long-term health outcomes.
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