Health Examinations

BODY MASS INDEX SURVEY

As part of a required school health examination, a student is weighed and his/her height is measured.  These numbers are used to figure out the student's body mass index or 'BMI' and weight status group.   The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend the use of BMI to screen for overweight and obesity in children beginning at the age of 2 years of age.

Obesity is a critical problem for New York's youth, so legislation was passed in 2007 requiring that BMI and weight status group be included as part of the student's school health examination.

A sample of school districts is selected annually to take part in a survey for New York State Department of Health.  When our school district is selected to be part of the survey, we will be reporting to New York State Department of Health information about our students' weight status groups.

ONLY SUMMARY INFORMATION IS SENT.  NO NAMES AND NO INFORMATION ABOUT INDIVIDUAL STUDENTS ARE SENT.

Parents who do not want their child's weight status group information to be included as part of the Health Department's survey, must notify the school nurse in writing by the first week of October.  The written request needs to include the child's name, parent's name, signature and date.

The information collected by New York State Department of Health about the extent, severity and trends in childhood obesity prevention programs and policies to be evaluated.