Accuracy of School Staff-Measured Height and Weight Used for Body Mass Index Screening and Reporting

Autor: Hannah R. Thompson, Jennifer Linchey, Benjamin King, Kristine A. Madsen, John H. Himes
Rok vydání: 2019
Předmět:
Zdroj: The Journal of school health, vol 89, iss 8
Popis: Author(s): Thompson, Hannah R; Linchey, Jennifer K; King, Benjamin; Himes, John H; Madsen, Kristine A | Abstract: BackgroundThe accuracy of students' heights and weights measured by school staff for body mass index (BMI) screening/reporting has not been established. This study examined school staffs' measurement accuracy, comparing accuracy by staff- and student-level characteristics.MethodsSchool staff and researchers measured the height and weight of 1008 4th-8th grade students, within 1 month of each other. Bland-Altman plots, mean differences, and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) were calculated to examine measurement accuracy. Linear mixed effects models assessed accuracy by staff- and student-level characteristics.ResultsBland-Altman plots revealed no appreciable bias in differences between researcher and staff measurements. The mean absolute difference between researcher and school staff measurements were 1.0 ± 1.6ncm (height), 0.7 ± 1.8nkg (weight), and 0.4 ± 0.8nkg/m2 (BMI). Inter-rater ICC values were ≥0.97, demonstrating "excellent" reliability. Categorical weight status was correctly classified for 94% of students (kappa 0.90), and for 96% with a BMI ≥95th% (kappa 0.94). Physical education (PE) teachers were slightly less accurate than school nurses in measuring height (0.4ncm less accurate; pn=n.045) and weight (0.4nkg; pn=n.015).ConclusionsSchool staff conducted height/weight measurements on 4th-8th grade students with high accuracy. Resultant school-based BMI reports using similar protocols should validly reflect weight status for almost all students.
Databáze: OpenAIRE