ERIC Number: EJ911732
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2011-Feb
Pages: 9
Abstractor: As Provided
Reference Count: 37
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1059-8405
A Growth Status Measurement Pilot in Four Calgary Area Schools: Perceptions of Grade 5 Students and Their Parents
Johnston, J. Cyne T.; McNeil, Deborah A.; Best, Maureen; MacLeod, Cheryl
Journal of School Nursing, v27 n1 p61-69 Feb 2011
Reliable measures of growth in children are necessary for planning and evaluating obesity prevention programs. Currently, measured growth data are unavailable in Calgary for school-age children. This single sample, cross-sectional study included Grade 5 students and their parents. Height and weight measurements of 305 students (68% of those eligible) were taken in private in June 2007 and converted to Body Mass Index (BMI) categories. All but one student (99.7%) completed a questionnaire assessing perceptions of the measurement process. Parents received their child's growth data, an information package on healthy eating and active living, additional resources, and a questionnaire. A third of parents completed the questionnaire. Most students (94.1%) reported feeling "OK" or "Happy" about being measured. In addition, 93.2% of parents reported having "Low" or "Neutral" concerns about the measurement. Furthermore, 28.1% of responding parents reported seeking additional resources or considered making a lifestyle change for their family following the pilot. Measurement of students completed in private by nurses was acceptable to participants. (Contains 1 table and 5 figures.)
Descriptors: Obesity, Body Composition, Life Style, Questionnaires, Grade 5, Body Weight, Body Height, Eating Habits, Program Evaluation, Program Effectiveness, Student Attitudes, Parent Attitudes, Screening Tests, Participant Satisfaction, Foreign Countries
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Elementary Education; Grade 5
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Canada (Calgary)