Document Type

Article

Publication Date

11-4-2018

Abstract

BACKGROUND

Embedded within children's weight trajectories are complex environmental contexts that influence obesity risk. As such, the normative environment of body mass index (BMI) within schools may influence children's weight trajectories as they age from kindergarten to fifth grade.

METHODS

I use 5 waves of the ECLS‐K—Kindergarten Class 1998‐1999 data and a series of multilevel growth models to examine whether attending schools with higher overall BMI influences children's weight status over time.

RESULTS

Results show that, net of child, family, and school sociodemographic characteristics, children who attend schools with higher rates of obesity have increased weight compared to children who attend schools with lower rates of obesity, and this effect increases annually.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings indicate that the overall weight status of schools influence child obesity, and further speak to the importance of school‐based intervention programs.

Comments

This is the accepted version of the following article:

Kranjac, A. (2018). School‐level body mass index shapes children's weight trajectories. Journal of School Health. DOI: 10.1111/josh.12701

which has been published in final form at DOI:10.1111/josh.12701. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Self-Archiving.

Peer Reviewed

1

Copyright

American School Health Association

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