title: Can school health check-ups serve as screening tool for growth anomalies and obesity in children?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the prevalence of growth disorders and obesity in schoolchildren and determine whether school health check-ups are effective in their screening. Subjects-methods: Analysis of anonymized growth and body mass index (BMI) data from 2887 children attending the 3rd grade from 2008 to 2009 after selection of 75 elementary schools in Paris.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Linear growth velocity was abnormal in 198 children. Height and weight were above the French reference values (+ 0.9 ± 1.2 SD and + 1 ± 1.7 SD, respectively). BMI was higher, compared to reference values (+ 0.4 ± 1.4 SD). At their last check-up, 20.9% of children had a BMI > + 2 SD.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  School health check-ups constitute a good screening tool for growth and obesity. However, further work is needed to determine the most effective modality. The reference values currently used in France are no longer suitable and new reference charts need to be established. The high prevalence of obesity in schoolchildren remains a public health challenge.
authors.forename: Athanasia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stoupa
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Goischke
authors.forename: Camille
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Garcin
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Elie
authors.forename: Magali
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Viaud
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Théry
authors.forename: Geneviève
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Richard
authors.forename: Michel
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1164-5862
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Polak
mesh_terms: D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D006130:Growth Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods*; D009765:Obesity / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012572:School Health Services