Parent reactions to a school-based body mass index screening program.(Research Article)(Report)
Saturday, 5 September 2009
Parent reactions to a school-based body mass index screening program.(Research Article)(Report)
Journal of School Health, May, 2009 by Johnson, Suzanne Bennett
In the last 30 years, childhood obesity has reached epidemic proportions, doubling for preschool children and adolescents and tripling for children aged 6-11. (1-3) This epidemic’s health consequences are enormous: asthma, hypertension, dyslipidemia, glucose intolerance and insulin resistance, sleep apnea, and orthopedic problems, to name a few. (2) Because childhood obesity tracks into adulthood, (4) its long-term consequences are a major public health problem.
Although many adults appear to appreciate the health risks of childhood obesity, (5,6) parents often fail to recognize their own child’s overweight status