NEWS FROM THE NURSE
MRS. McILHENNY, SCHOOL NURSE
The students of the Neshaminy School District are weighed and measured every
year as part of the health assessment mandated by the state of
Pennsylvania. Beginning
in September 2005, the state has also requested that the nurses
calculate a Body
Mass Index (BMI)
and Body Mass Index Percentile as provided by the Centers for
Disease Control. In
elementary schools, the BMI will be calculated and the results
sent home to every parent
of first and fourth grade students.
A Body Mass Index is a weight for stature index that can be utilized in
conjunction with other health profile traits to indicate possible
risk for disease. Because
the percentage of body fat changes during the growing years,
children and teens require adaptation of the BMI results to
reflect this. The Body
Mass Index Percentile identifies the place on the growth charts
where a particular student compares with other students of the
same gender and age.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have suggested that Body Mass
Index percentiles less than 5% and more than 85% may represent
risk to health.
For more information on Body Mass Index and
health you can log onto the web site for the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention, US Department of Health and Human Services
at www.cdc.gov/growthcharts
Information on nutrition and activity resources can also be
obtained from Pennsylvania Advocates for Nutrition and Activity at
http://www.panaonline.org
See links at left for helpful tips from Mrs. McIlhenny
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