BMI Information—An FAQ Guide For Sumner School District Parents
PURPOSE:
1.
What is BMI?
BMI stands for Body Mass Index. It is a way of checking to see if your child has a healthy weight. The results of the
screening compare your child’s height and weight to other children of the same age and sex. The results are given as a
“percentile.” The percentile shows how a child’s BMI compares to others of the same age and sex. In general, the higher
the BMI, the more fat there is in the body.
healthy weight
0
5
85
95 100
Underweight – less than the 5th percentile
Healthy weight – 5th percentile to less than the 85th percentile
Overweight – 85th percentile to less than the 95th percentile
Obese – 95th percentile or greater
2.
How are the numbers determined?
Body Mass Index (BMI) is a number calculated from a child's weight and height. BMI is a reliable indicator of body fat for
most children and teens. BMI does not measure body fat directly, but research has shown that BMI correlates to direct
measures of body fat, such as underwater weighing and dual energy x-ray absorptiometry. BMI can be considered an
alternative for direct measures of body fat. Additionally, BMI is an inexpensive and easy-to-perform method of screening
for weight indicators that may lead to health problems.
For children and teens, BMI is age- and gender-specific and is often referred to as BMI-for-age.
3.
What do the numbers mean?
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BMI is way to detect possible weight problems for children. A BMI below 5 percentile may mean that a child is not
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growing well or that he or she may be at risk for an eating disorder. Children with a BMI above 85 percentile are
overweight. Those above 95th percentile are obese. Overweight or obese kids are more likely to be overweight adults. This
puts them at risk for a number of health problems like diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke.
4.
Why are Sumner schools doing BMI screening?
The Sumner District is doing BMI screening as part of implementing the Federal Carol M. White PEP Grant because . . .
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People who are overweight or obese can have serious health problems. There can also be serious problems for
people who are underweight.
The longer a person spends with an unhealthy BMI the more difficult it is to change the BMI and correct the
accompanying health problems. Early identification and response will help more children to live healthy lives.
Parents who have information about their children’s BMI and ideas about how to help their children with healthy
living can make sure their kids maintain a healthy weight.
Having information about how many children in our community are in each weight range will give community and
District leaders an improved ability to work with parents, school officials, and after school and recreation programs
to come up with ideas to help even more children get into a healthier weight range.
BMI Information—An FAQ Guide For Sumner School District Parents
PRIVACY & DATA USE PROCEDURES:
5.
What process is used for taking BMI measurements in PE classes?
PE teachers will take student height and weight (clothes on, shoes off) during class time in an individual setting screened
from the rest of the class (usually with a crash mat turned on its edge). No teacher-student contact is necessary for these
measurements to be taken (there will be NO tape measures and NO skin-fold tests as part of this process). Students are
directed not to ask each other about their measurements.
6.
How will the school protect my child’s results?
First and foremost, the Sumner School District employs strict protocols for protecting student information (from respecting
no-photo requests to secure, password protected access to student academic information in Family Access) in compliance
with federal law requiring schools to keep student results private (FERPA).
7.
How will the school use the BMI information?
Starting in the 2012-13 school year, all parents with children in PE will receive a communication detailing their child’s fitness
testing results. This communication will provide information about interpreting all fitness scores, including BMI. The
communication will also highlight additional fitness opportunities and nutrition resources that can be used to help your
child maintain his or her health.
8.
Where will the information be stored?
Just as your child’s grades, test results, food service, and discipline information are stored securely on the District’s student
information management system—Family Access—the results of your child’s fitness results will be stored on a secure,
parent accessible, fitness information management system called Welnet. Parents will be able to view their child’s results
anytime in Welnet.
9.
Who has access to this information?
Just like with your Family Access account, only you, your child, and your child’s PE teacher have access to individual student
data.
10. Will it ever be used to grade my child in PE? Will a poor BMI - or a lack of improvement in BMI - bring down any of my
child's grades?
No. This measurement is about student health, not grades. BMI results will have no bearing on
your child’s PE grade.
11. How will a positive change in my child's BMI be considered or used? (For a report card? etc.)
No. This measurement is about student health, not grades. BMI results will have no bearing on your child’s PE grade.
12. I don’t want my child’s BMI to be calculated. What are my options?
You may contact the Sumner School District PEP Grant Manager, Brenda Kuehlthau, and request a BMI opt-out form. Her
phone number is 891-6053.
BMI Information—An FAQ Guide For Sumner School District Parents
USING THE RESULTS:
13. Why is BMI screening important to my child and me?
th
BMI is way to detect possible weight problems for children. A BMI below 5 percentile may mean that a child is not
th
growing well or that he or she may be at risk for an eating disorder. Children with a BMI above 85 percentile are
overweight. Those above 95th percentile are obese. Overweight or obese kids are more likely to be overweight adults. This
puts them at risk for a number of health problems like diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke.
14. How should I talk with my child on his or her results?
You can start by saying that the BMI screening gives you and your child information about how he or she is growing. Rather
than talking about BMI, you can talk about ways to stay healthy and active. Emphasize good nutrition and a physically active
lifestyle—NOT dieting. Emphasize that bodies come in all shapes and sizes and that with good nutrition and exercise ALL of
these body shapes and sizes can be healthy.
If you and your child have talked about these topics before, either at home or in the doctor’s office, you can remind your
child how this fits in with what you have already discussed. You can also ask your child if he or she has any questions about
their body measurements. Encouraging your child to share feelings about his or her growing and changing body will let him
or her know it is okay to talk about these things with you.
15. What do I do if my child has a high number?
You can talk with your child’s doctor about his or her BMI. You can also help your child eat 3 balanced meals a day. These
meals should include fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean meats and fish, and low-fat or non-fat milk. You should limit
foods high in sugar and fat. For example, avoid soda and other foods that have lots of calories but no nutritional value.
Think “5210” as an everyday guide—5 servings of fruit and vegetables, 2 hours max of recreational screen time (TV,
computer), 1 hour of moderate to vigorous exercise, 0 sugary drinks.
16. Is it possible that a child with a high BMI isn’t overweight?
Many things can affect BMI, like family history, bone density, and muscle mass. BMI cannot tell a difference between
muscle and fat, so if a child is very athletic and has a lot of muscle, his or her BMI can be high, even though he or she is not
overweight. Your child’s doctor or nurse can help you understand what your child’s BMI screening results mean for him or
her.
17. What other tests might be needed to follow up on a high or low BMI number?
It is recommended that a glucose (sugar) test for diabetes be done as well as a Cholesterol test. Normal cholesterol levels
should be below 200 and we like to see children and teens at 180 or lower. Glucose levels should in a range of 90-180
(fasting) for children 6 – 12 years old and 90-130 (fasting) for children 13 – 19 years old as a general rule. Average glucose
over time (A1C) for children 6-12 years old should be less than 8% and for children 13-19 years old 7.5% or less. Please
consult with your physician for details. Although numbers are important, you really want to focus on lifestyle.
 Are kids eating “my plate way”?
 How much fast food are they eating?
 How much exercise are they getting
 Are you limiting screen time?
 Are they eating breakfast?
 Are you limiting the amount of sugar consumed?
BMI Information—An FAQ Guide For Sumner School District Parents
18. What resources should I check to help my child attain or maintain a healthy weight?
Resources:
Contact your family health care provider to identify local resources for your child if you have any concerns regarding their
weight and health.
BMI information for parents regarding children and teens:
http://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/assessing/bmi/childrens_bmi/about_childrens_bmi.html
www.healthiergeneration.org
www.actionforhealthykids.org
Weight of the Nation Documentary
Nutrition information:
http://www.choosemyplate.gov/
Body Image:
http://www.thebodypositive.org/
http://www.bodyimagehealth.org/
http://www.womenshealth.gov/bodyworks/
ABOUT THIS DOCUMENT:
Adapted from Massachusetts Department of Public Health BMI FAQ Document and the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Child
and Teen BMI information website
Submitted to SHAB members for feedback 4.20.12
Submitted to TPCHD 4.17.12