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June 2004, Vol 94, No. 6 | American Journal of Public Health 1002-1008
© 2004 American Public Health Association

RESEARCH AND PRACTICE

Measuring the Prevalence of Overweight in Texas Schoolchildren

Deanna M. Hoelscher, PhD, RD, LD, CNS, R. Sue Day, PhD, Eun Sul Lee, PhD, Ralph F. Frankowski, PhD, Steven H. Kelder, PhD, MPH, Jerri L. Ward, MA, RD, LD and Michael E. Scheurer, MPH

Deanna M. Hoelscher, R. Sue Day, Jerri L. Ward, and Michael E. Scheurer are with the Human Nutrition Center, University of Texas School of Public Health, Houston, Tex. Eun Sul Lee and Ralph F. Frankowski are with the Division of Biometry, University of Texas School of Public Health, Houston. Steven H. Kelder is with the Center for Health Promotion and Prevention Research, University of Texas–Houston School of Public Health.

Correspondence: Requests for reprints should be sent to Deanna M. Hoelscher, PhD, RD, LD, CNS, Human Nutrition Center, University of Texas–Houston School of Public Health, 1200 Hermann Pressler Dr, W RAS 920, Houston, TX 77030 (e-mail: deanna.m.hoelscher{at}uth.tmc.edu).

Objectives. We describe results from year 1 of a surveillance system to monitor body mass index in children at the state level.

Methods. A sample of 6630 children attending Texas public schools, weighted to represent 4th, 8th, and 11th grades within race/ethnic subpopulations, was assessed. Body mass index was calculated from measured height and weight; demographic information was obtained from a questionnaire.

Results. Prevalence of overweight was 22.4%, 19.2%, and 15.5% for 4th-, 8th-, and 11th-grade students, respectively. Overweight prevalence was highest among Hispanic boys (29.5%–32.6%), fourth-grade Hispanic girls (26.7%), and fourth- and eighth-grade African American girls (30.8% and 23.1%, respectively). Eleventh-grade White/other girls had the lowest prevalence of overweight (5.5%).

Conclusions. These data confirm the increasing prevalence of overweight among US children, especially among Hispanic and African American students compared to White/other students and fourth-grade students relative to 8th- and 11th-grade students.




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J. Kim, A. Must, G. M. Fitzmaurice, M. W. Gillman, V. Chomitz, E. Kramer, R. McGowan, and K. E. Peterson
Incidence and Remission Rates of Overweight Among Children Aged 5 to 13 Years in a District-Wide School Surveillance System
Am J Public Health, September 1, 2005; 95(9): 1588 - 1594.
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