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Into the Community

States Earn "A" for Combating Childhood Obesity

Donna Lloyd-Kolkin, Ph.D., Health Communication Specialist

Six states-California, Illinois, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Tennessee-have earned an "A" in the 2006 Childhood Obesity Report Card issued by the University of Baltimore (UB). The UB Obesity Research Initiative awards grades annually based on laws enacted by state legislatures to create policies or environmental changes that promote healthy eating and an active lifestyle.

For the childhood obesity report card, the researchers assessed states' progress in addressing:

  • nutrition standards: limiting the types of foods and beverages offered during school hours
  • vending machine usage: prohibiting types of foods and beverages sold in school and prohibiting access to vending machines at certain times
  • body mass index (BMI) measured in school
  • recess and physical education: state-mandated additional recess and physical education time
  • obesity programs and education: programs established as part of the curriculum

Physical Activity and Nutrition Legislation

Recess/physical education requirements and nutrition standards were the most common types of legislation to address childhood obesity in 2006, present in 24 states. Sixteen states have passed legislation restricting vending machine usage and 23 have mandated obesity education programs.

Seven states-Arkansas, California, Illinois, New York, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and West Virginia-require that schools measure student BMIs and inform parents of the results. This has often caused controversy, as some parents fear that it will trigger negative body images and eating disorders in their children.

A Comprehensive Health Approach

In 2003, Arkansas passed a law that comprehensively addressed childhood obesity in public schools and communities. One of its key components was an annual report of each student's Body Mass Index (BMI) to his or her parents.

In 2006, an analysis of three years of BMI assessments of public school students revealed that the increase in rates of childhood obesity in Arkansas has been halted. Additional analysis indicates that parents and adolescents were generally comfortable with the BMI reporting process.

Only three states-Nevada, Utah, and Wyoming-earned failing grades on the 2006 Childhood Obesity Report Card for failing to pass any legislation to combat childhood obesity.


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