Since Arkansas started sending the obesity letters to parents, the state's childhood obesity rates rose to nearly 24% from 21%. During the pandemic, the state obesity rate hit a high of more than 26%.
Since Arkansas started sending the obesity letters to parents, the state's childhood obesity rates rose to nearly 24% from 21%. During the pandemic, the state obesity rate hit a high of more than 26%.
His parents later would be among thousands to receive a letter beginning,"Many children in Arkansas have health problems caused by their weight." The letter includes each student's measurements as well as their calculated body mass index. The BMI number categorizes each child as"underweight,""normal,""overweight," or"obese." Christopher's BMI of 25.1 put him in the obese range.
Sharing this information with them is critical, he said, given that many don't see it as a problem because obesity is so prevalent. Arkansas is also a rural state, so many families don't have easy access to pediatricians, he said. Kimberly Collins, 50, remembers being confused by the BMI letters sent to her from the Little Rock School District stating that all her children were overweight, and that one daughter was considered obese.She didn't think her children looked overweight and the family pediatrician had never brought it up as a concern.
"There's a lot of rich contextual pieces that we know influences rates of obesity," Gee said."And so how do we balance that information?"
Arkansas Childhood Obesity Obesity Letters Pandemic Health School Students
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