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Indiana Schoolchildren (K-12)
Height and Weight Data Collection Project
Obesity is a problem that continues to get worse not only in the United States but also in developed countries throughout the world. In order to obtain an accurate health status of our schoolchildren, the Indiana State Department of Health and the Indiana Department of Education have collaborated to collect the height and weight of all children (K-12). The intent of collecting and analyzing this data is to screen our children to determine the prevalence of overweight and the pattern of overweight over time in Indiana children. The height and weight data collected will not be used for diagnosing any individual student with a weight problem.
The limited data we have indicate that Indiana children are not doing better than the national average (YRBSS 03): 14% percent are at risk of overweight and 12% are overweight.
The mission for the Community Nutrition and Obesity Prevention Division is to increase public awareness of healthy eating and activities, to promote healthy life styles, and to prevent obesity and related chronic diseases. Accurate data is necessary to fulfill the duties of this mission. Data from this project will be used to influence policies and programs to promote healthier environments for our Indiana children.
