Public Health Report: Obesity, School BMI Assessment

This report, prepared on behalf of the American Obesity Association, argues that obesity should be recognized as a disease and advocates for policy changes regarding school-based body composition assessments. It examines arguments for and against this classification, including the use of Body Mass Index (BMI) and the potential impact on students. The report reviews literature supporting school-based assessments as a method for obesity prevention, highlighting the role of behavior change theory and the potential for schools to implement nutritional programs and counseling. The conclusion recommends policy reforms to acknowledge obesity as a disease and promote BMI screening by trained nurses in schools, with a focus on reliable and valid measurement processes.

1Running head: PUBLIC HEALTH
Critical Issues in Public Health
Name of student:
Name of university:
Author note:

2
PUBLIC HEALTH
American Obesity Association, United States, advocates for obesity prevention in the
country and upholds the belief that obesity is a disease. The communities across the country
must be knowledgeable about the disease being a serious one, and the epidemic portions
witnessed. There has been a debate regarding whether obesity is a disease or not. Being a
representative of the American Obesity Association, it is appropriate to forward this paper
that highlights obesity as a disease and recommends policy change in relation to the school-
based assessment of body composition of children. The standpoint taken in this regard is that
since obesity has wide implications for being a disease, school-based assessment of body
composition, primarily weight and height is an appropriate obesity prevention strategy.
The primary arguments against referring obesity as a disease include the fact that
individuals would be needing treatment only because the body mass index (BMI) crosses the
threshold even if the individual is healthy. Further, the BMI tool also has certain flaws in it
and is ill-equiped (Goel et al., 2014). The main argument against body mass index (BMI)
screening in schools as an obesity prevention strategy is that the perceived comfort of the
students is not taken into consideration in this regard. Further, screening does not lead to
sufficient obesity control since proper education was not present Madsen and Linchey (2011).
Madsen (2012) point out that students restrict themselves from taking part in such screening
processes due to body shaming and low self-confidence.
Khan and Sievenpiper (2016) on the contrary pointed out that obesity is a diseae since
it requires a wide range of interventions that include medical management. Obesity is
associated with dysfunctioning of body and bodily abnormalities are also faced. Further,
obesity has been pointed out as a geneticay programmed, chronic disease. Though control
and management of obesity can eb possible, it cannot be cured (Haslam et al., 2014).

3
PUBLIC HEALTH
The range of literature pointing out the benefits of school-based assessment of body
composition, however, is noteworthy and proves the worthiness of the approach. As opined
by Bailey-Davis et al., (2017) behaviour change theory acts in support of the mentioned
approach since awareness can be created among the school children in relation to making
lifestyle changes for preventing obesity (Ruggieri & Bass, 2015). Gee (2015) highlighted that
if school-based weight and height assessment is carried out, it is easier for the school
authority to plan and implement nutritional programs that assist increasing nutritional intake
of the students. Since management counselling sessions are needed for lifestyle changes,
these can be implemented along with the Body Mass Index (BMI) assessment processes.
Lastly, schools can always provide the students with a supportive and comfortable
environment that augment the interest of the children to take part in such programs (Lee &
Kubik, 2015).
Based on the above analysis it is recommended that policy reforms are to be brought
about in the country that acknowledges that obesity is a disease. As the heath complications
faced by people suffering from obesity are adverse in nature, school-based assessment of
body composition as a suitable and promising obesity prevention strategy among the young
population. Screening for BMI in schools is to be undertaken by nurses who have sufficient
skills and knowledge in this regard. Further, reliability and validity of the measurement
process are to be adjudged before application of the process.

4
PUBLIC HEALTH
References
Bailey-Davis, L., Peyer, K. L., Fang, Y., Kim, J. K., & Welk, G. J. (2017). Effects of
Enhancing School-Based Body Mass Index Screening Reports with Parent Education
on Report Utility and Parental Intent To Modify Obesity Risk Factors. Childhood
Obesity, 13(2), 164-171.
Gee, K. A. (2015). School-based body mass index screening and parental notification in late
adolescence: evidence from Arkansas's act 1220. Journal of Adolescent Health, 57(3),
270-276.
Goel, K., Lopez-Jimenez, F., De Schutter, A., Coutinho, T., & Lavie, C. J. (2014). Obesity
paradox in different populations: evidence and controversies. Future
cardiology, 10(1), 81-91.
Haslam, D. W., Sharma, A. M., & Le Roux, C. W. (Eds.). (2014). Controversies in obesity.
Springer London.
Khan, T. A., & Sievenpiper, J. L. (2016). Controversies about sugars: results from systematic
reviews and meta-analyses on obesity, cardiometabolic disease and
diabetes. European journal of nutrition, 1-19.
Lee, J., & Kubik, M. Y. (2015). Child’s weight status and parent’s response to a school-based
body mass index screening and parent notification program. The Journal of School
Nursing, 31(4), 300-305.
Madsen, K. A. (2011). School-based body mass index screening and parent notification: a
statewide natural experiment. Archives of pediatrics & adolescent medicine, 165(11),
987-992.
Madsen, K. A., & Linchey, J. (2012). School‐Based BMI and Body Composition Screening
and Parent Notification in California: Methods and Messages. Journal of School
Health, 82(6), 294-300.
Ruggieri, D. G., & Bass, S. B. (2015). A comprehensive review of school-based body mass
index screening programs and their implications for school health: do the
controversies accurately reflect the research?(vol 85, pg 61, 2015). Journal of school
health, 85(6), 411-411.