title: A growth status measurement pilot in four Calgary area schools: perceptions of grade 5 students and their parents.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Public Health Innovation and Decision Support, Population and Public Health, Alberta Health Services, Calgary, AB, Canada.
authors.forename: J Cyne T
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Johnston
authors.forename: Deborah A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: McNeil
authors.forename: Maureen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Best
authors.forename: Cheryl
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: MacLeod
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000416:Alberta / Q000453:epidemiology; D001827:Body Height; D001828:Body Image; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D010290:Parents / Q000193:education*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012572:School Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data