Prevalence of elevated body mass index and blood pressure in a rural school-aged population: implications for school nurses.
The growing prevalence of overweight in students and adolescents has become a matter of national concern and is linked to a rise in chronic health conditions in students who previously had low prevalence rates, such as cardiovascular disease. This study examined the relationships between age, ethnicity, race, body mass index (BMI), and elevated blood pressure (BP) in a rural school age population. Data are reported for 1121 students in grades K-11. The sample was 55% African American, 41% Caucasian, 3% Hispanic, and 1% other. The prevalence of students at risk of being overweight (BMI > or =85th percentile) was 46.5%, and the prevalence of overweight students (BMI > or =95th percentile) was 29.1%. The prevalence of elevated BP was 21.6%. Elevated BMI and BP were more prevalent in older students. While there was a direct relationship between elevated BMI and elevated BP for all groups, African Americans were more likely to have an elevated BP with a normal BMI. These findings demonstrate the important role of the school nurse in providing effective prevention strategies related to screening, follow-up, and treatment.
Jones County Health Department, PO Box 216, Trenton, NC 28585, USA. cak1028@mail.ecu.edu
Carol Ann
CA
King
Beth Bender
BB
Meadows
Martha Keehner
MK
Engelke
Melvin
M
Swanson
D000293:Adolescent; D001741:Black or African American; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology; D008297:Male; D009657:North Carolina / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012424:Rural Population; D012573:School Nursing; D012574:Schools / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D044465:White People