Pennsylvania to Require Schools to Record BMI of Students

In an effort to address the obesity epidemic, now a public health crisis, the Pennsylvania Department of Health will begin in the 2005 - 2006 school year to require that schools record Body Mass Index (BMI) measurements for students. Schools are to inform parents of the results, and recommend they consult their health care providers for more information. The revised Pennsylvania Growth Screening Program takes effect for grades K-4 the first year, and expands three additional grades each year thereafter, so that BMI will be recorded for grades K-12 by the 2007 - 2008 school year.