Prevalence of Overweight and Risk of Overweight Among 3- to 5-Year-Old Chicago Children, 2002-2003

  1. Maryann Mason†,
  2. Patricia Meleedy-Rey‡,
  3. Katherine Kaufer Christoffel§,
  4. Matt Longjohn,
  5. Myrna P. Garcia‖,
  6. Catherine Ashlaw††

Article first published online: 10 FEB 2006

DOI: 10.1111/j.1746-1561.2006.00077.x

Issue

Journal of School Health

Journal of School Health

Volume 76, Issue 3, pages 104–110, March 2006

Additional Information

How to Cite

Mason, M., Meleedy-Rey, P., Christoffel, K. K., Longjohn, M., Garcia, M. P. and Ashlaw, C. (2006), Prevalence of Overweight and Risk of Overweight Among 3- to 5-Year-Old Chicago Children, 2002-2003. Journal of School Health, 76: 104–110. doi: 10.1111/j.1746-1561.2006.00077.x

Author Information

    Maryann Mason, PhD, Research Director, Center on Obesity Management and Prevention (COMP), Children's Memorial Research Center, and Research Assistant Professor, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, 2300 Children's Plaza, Box 157, Chicago, IL 60614, (mmason@childrensmemorial.org)2Patricia Meleedy-Rey, MPH, Data Coordinator, (pmrey@childrensmemorial.org), Child Health Data Lab, Mary Ann and J. Milburn Smith Child Health Research Program, Children's Memorial Research Center, 2300 Children's Plaza, Box 157, Chicago, IL 606143Katherine Kaufer Christoffel, MD, MPH, Director, Center on Obesity Management and Prevention (COMP), Children's Memorial Research Center, and Professor of Pediatrics and Preventive Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, 2300 Children's Plaza, Box 157, Chicago, IL 60614, (kkauferchristoffel@northwestern.edu)4Matt Longjohn, MD, MPH, Executive Director, Consortium to Lower Obesity in Chicago Children (CLOCC), Children's Memorial Research Center, and Research Assistant Professor, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, 2300 Children's Plaza, Box 157, Chicago, IL 60614, (mlongjohn@childrensmemorial.org)5Myrna P. Garcia, EdD, MEd, MA, CSN, BSN, Director of Student Health Services (retired) (mgarcia@csc.cps.k12.il.us), Chicago Public Schools, 25 S. Clark St, 8th floor, Chicago, IL 606036Catherine Ashlaw, RN, MS, MEd, IL CSN, NCSN, Certified School Nurse (caashlaw@cps.k12.il.us), Chicago Public Schools, LeMoyne School, 851 W. Waveland Ave, Chicago, IL 60613.

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 10 FEB 2006
  2. Article first published online: 10 FEB 2006

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Abstract: This article reports the first estimates of overweight prevalence in Chicago children entering school (aged 3-5 years). Chicago data are compared with those from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) and the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study (ECLS). Data were from 2 separate convenience samples of children aged 3-5 years attending either 18 Chicago Public Schools or 10 Chicago Catholic School pre-K programs (n = 1517). Data were taken from students’ Certificate of Child Health Examination (CCHE), completed by a health professional. Overall, the prevalence of overweight subjects (body mass index ≥95th percentile) was 24%, more than twice that of the national prevalence of 10% for 2- to 5-year olds documented by NHANES (1999-2002) and 3 times that of the 1998-1999 ECLS prevalence estimate of 8% for 5- to 7-year olds in the Midwest region. The data reported here document that nearly one quarter of children entering school in Chicago are already overweight. This clearly establishes a need for local schools to develop protocols and procedures to support the physical and mental health needs of affected and at-risk children. The findings also make it plain that ongoing weight status monitoring is needed and that current plans to implement this should go forward. (J Sch Health. 2006;76(3):104-110)

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