The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #41746

Virginia R Chomitz, PhD¹, Jessica J. Collins, MS¹, Juhee Kim, MS¹, Ellen Kramer, ScD RD², and Robert McGowan, PhD³. (1) Institute for Community Health, 119 Windsor St., Ground Level, Cambridge, MA 02139, 617-665-3807, vchomitz@challiance.org, (2) Health Information Unit, Cambridge Health Alliance, 119 Windsor Street, Cambridge, MA 02139, (3) Morse School, Cambridge Public Schools, 40 Granite Streeet, cambridge, MA 02139

Objective: This study evaluated an education intervention, “report cards” of students’ weight status. We measured parents’ perception, concern, motivation, and interest in their child’s weight status.

Abstract text: Trained physical education teachers measured students’ weight and height. (n=1396, aged 5 to 14) in four primary schools. Students’ families were randomized into three groups. The personal information group (PI) received individualized height, weight, and BMI percentile (CDC/NCHS) with healthy lifestyle information (“2-1-5” ). The general information group (GI) received only the general healthy lifestyle information, and the control group (C) received general healthy lifestyle information after surveyed. Response rate for all groups was 50% (399 families out of 793). The percent of parents who identified their child’s weight status as overweight when their children were actually overweight were 50% (PI), 49% (GI), and 27% (C). The percent of parents who were very concerned about their child’s weight were 14% (PI), 16% (GI), and 9% (C). The percent of parents who have or intend to do some activities because of weight concerns for their child since receiving the package were 32% (PI), 21% (GI), and 8% (C). The majority of both groups want to receive the weight and health information each year, 81% (PI) and 76% (GI). In our regression analysis we found the two strongest predictors of parent’s correct knowledge of their child’s weight status was age and weight status. Parents with children who were older and in the healthy weight category were more likely to know their child’s correct weight.

Learning Objectives:

• Articulate how one community increased family awareness of overweight and poor fitness.
• Develop an overweight prevention model in their own community.
• List ways that an informational intervention may impact families and their readiness.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.