BMI Data Collection and Communication Practices in a Multistate Sample of Head Start Programs.
Alison Tovar1, M Elizabeth Miller2, Virginia C Stage3
1Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, USA.
Childhood Obesity (Print)
|December 7, 2021
Summary
Most Head Start programs collect child height and weight data, but standardized protocols are lacking. Communication with parents about results and resources for children with overweight or obesity are common.
Area of Science:
- Child Health and Nutrition
- Public Health Surveillance
- Early Childhood Education
Background:
- Federal mandate requires anthropometric data collection in Head Start (HS).
- Limited understanding of current HS anthropometric data collection and dissemination practices.
- Need to assess how height and weight data are communicated to parents.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate anthropometric data collection procedures in HS programs.
- To understand how measurement results are disseminated to parents/guardians.
- To identify challenges and best practices in HS anthropometry.
Main Methods:
- Electronic survey distributed to HS Health or Nutrition managers.
- Convenience sampling via personal contacts and state directors.
- Quantitative data analyzed with descriptive statistics; qualitative data analyzed thematically.
Main Results:
- 57.1% of programs have a written protocol for measurements.
- HS staff primarily collect measurements (64.5%).
- Most programs explain results to parents (82.3%) and provide resources for overweight/obesity (80.3%).
Conclusions:
- Opportunities exist for improving standardized data collection protocols.
- Enhanced communication strategies are needed for sharing anthropometric data with families.
- Addressing challenges in measurement accuracy and communication sensitivity is crucial.
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