Majority of Parents Do Not Believe Their Child's BMI Report Card

Author: SAGE
Published: 14 Feb 2018 - Updated: 3 Oct 2023
Publication Details: Peer-Reviewed, Research Study Analysis

Contents: Synopsis - Definition - Introduction - Main - Related Publications

Synopsis: 53% of parents who receive their child's Body Mass Index report card do not believe it accurately categorizes their child as underweight, average weight, overweight, or obese.

As more children and adolescents in America become overweight, fewer parents may recognize their child as overweight or obese.

Topic Definition: Body Mass Index

Body Mass Index (BMI) is a screening tool for overweight and obesity. BMI is a person's weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in meters. Height to weight proportionate refers to a person who is neither over nor underweight. A high BMI can indicate high body fat.

Introduction

BMI Report Cards: Parents' Perceptions and Reactions - Jones et al., in Health Promotion Practice

53% of parents who receive their child's Body Mass Index (BMI) report card do not believe that it accurately categorizes their child as underweight, normal weight, overweight, or obese, according to research out today in Health Promotion Practice, a SAGE Publishing journal.

Main Content

Researchers Jones et al. conducted a study to determine how parents responded to their child's BMI report card, which contains health information about their child's weight and the steps families can take if their child is categorized as "overweight" or "at risk" for certain diseases, such as heart disease or high blood pressure.

Looking at data from 66 parents, they found that:

• 53% of parents did not believe the BMI report accurately reflected their child's weight status.
• 45% of parents believe their child's BMI should be reported to them by their school.
• 33% of parents reported that receiving their child's BMI report card made them think about their family's health habits.
• 22% of parents reported contacting a health care professional about their child's weight status after receiving a BMI report card.
• 16% of parents reported seeking tips for healthy eating or physical activity from a health care professional after receiving a BMI report card.
• 13% of parents whose child was categorized as "at risk" or "overweight" reported making changes to their child's diet or activity habits.

"Though parents support receiving BMI report cards, they may not accurately interpret the information they receive," wrote the researchers. "As more children and adolescents in the United States become overweight, fewer parents may recognize their child as overweight or obese."

For schools that issue BMI report cards to parents, the researchers recommend providing parents with opportunities to visit with healthcare professionals, such as school nurses or physical educators, at various times throughout the school year.

They also recommend that schools encourage parents to ask questions and seek advice from healthcare professionals who can provide information about improving their child's health.

"Schools are a critical link in improving children's health through programs such as BMI health reports," wrote the researchers. "However, if schools take on the responsibility of sharing BMI report cards with parents, they must also be willing to provide some support and act as a resource for parents."

Attribution/Source(s): This peer reviewed publication was selected for publishing by the editors of Disabled World (DW) due to its relevance to the disability community. Originally authored by SAGE and published on 14 Feb 2018, this content may have been edited for style, clarity, or brevity.