BMI Screening and Reporting in Schools: The Fit Study

The Fit Study is a three-year, cluster-randomized controlled trial that will evaluate the
impact of school-based body mass index (BMI) screening and reporting on childhood obesity in
California. This study will take place during the 2014-15, 2015-16, and 2016-17 school
years. Seventy-five schools across California will be randomized to one of three groups: 1)
BMI screening and reporting, 2) BMI screening, and 3) no BMI screening or reporting
(control). Schools randomized to Groups 1 and 2 will conduct height and weight measurements
annually with their 3rd-8th grade students. Group 1 and 2 schools will also administer the
five fitness assessments from the FITNESSGRAM test annually with their 5th-8th grade
students. These assessments will take place in the spring to coincide with the annual
FITNESSGRAM assessment that is required for 5th, 7th, and 9th grade students by California
state law. In the fall of Years 2 and 3, Group 1 schools will mail a report home to parents
with their student's BMI results from the previous spring. Investigators will randomize the
parents of 6th-8th grade students (who were 5th-7th grade students during the previous
school year) to receive one of two report types: 1) a report that only provides BMI results,
or 2) a report that provides BMI results with results from the five fitness assessments.
Schools randomized to Group 3 will not conduct height and weight measurements with their
students during Years 1 and 2. During these years, 5th and 7th grade students from Group 3
schools will participate in the five fitness assessments of the FITNESSGRAM test. The
California Department of Education will grant these schools as exemption from collecting
height and weight data on their 5th and 7th grade students, which is normally required as
part of the FITNESSGRAM.

In the fall of Year 1, investigators will conduct a baseline survey with students from all
schools. This survey will assess weight-based teasing and stigmatization, weight-control
behaviors, and general nutrition and physical activity behaviors. The student survey will
also ask questions about students' experiences having height and weight measurements
conducted at school. After students complete the baseline survey, investigators will
randomize schools to study groups. Investigators will repeat the student survey in the fall
of Years 2 and 3 to assess change in the aforementioned constructs. In addition to the
student survey, investigators will survey a sample of parents in Years 1 and 3. The parent
survey will assess parent behaviors related to their child's physical activity and nutrition
and parent reactions to the BMI report.

Inclusion Criteria:

Inclusion criteria for school districts:

1. District does not report BMI results to caregivers and has no history of doing so

2. District has at least eight schools that meet all of the school-level eligibility
criteria

Inclusion criteria for schools:

1. School does not report BMI results to caregivers and has no history of doing so

2. School has an enrollment of 15% to 85% Latino students

3. School has an enrollment of at least 30 students in grades 3 through 8

Inclusion criteria for students: Student is enrolled in 3rd-8th grade

Inclusion criteria for parents: Parent has a child who is enrolled in study

Inclusion criteria for teachers: Teacher measures the heights and weights of students for
the study

Exclusion Criteria: None