Height and Weight on the Same Date

 

Height and weight measurements are supposed to be easy but there seems to be inconsistencies in measurement resulting in discrepancies in Body Mass Index (BMI). Children who are in the Head Start and Early Head Start receive height and weight measurements with the first 45 days of their enrollment and again in the Spring of that same program year. These assessments screen to determine the risk status of a child being underweight, overweight, and obese. Below are easy to follow steps on measuring each. Read, you may be surprised!

 

HOW TO MEASURE HEIGHT ACCURATELY

 

Remove the child's shoes, bulky clothing, and hair ornaments, and unbraid hair that interferes with

the measurement.

 

Take the height measurement on flooring that is not carpeted and against a flat surface such as a wall

with no molding.

 

Have the child stand with feet flat, together, and against the wall. Make sure legs are straight, arms are at sides,

and shoulders are level.

 

Make sure the child is looking straight ahead and that the line of sight is parallel with the floor.

 

Take the measurement while the child stands with head, shoulders, buttocks, and heels touching the flat

surface (wall). (See illustration.) Depending on the overall body shape of the child, all points may not touch the wall.

 

Use a flat headpiece to form a right angle with the wall and lower the headpiece until it firmly touches the

crown of the head.

 

Make sure the measurer's eyes are at the same level as the headpiece.

 

Lightly mark where the bottom of the headpiece meets the wall. Then, use a metal tape to measure from the base on the floor to the marked measurement on the wall to get the height measurement.

 

Accurately record the height to the nearest 1/8th inch or 0.1 centimeter.

 

 

**Scroll down to the DOCUMENTATION section to assess correctly

 

 

               Demonstration video:                   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

HOW TO MEASURE WEIGHT ACCURATELY

It is very important that height and weight are conducted on the same day

 

Use a digital scale! Avoid using bathroom scales that are spring-loaded. Place the scale on firm flooring (such as tile or wood) rather than carpet.

 

Have the child or teen remove shoes and heavy clothing, such as sweaters.

 

Make sure the scale is calibrated to zero every time before use.

 

Have the child or teen stand with both feet in the center of the scale. Whatever foot they step on

the scale with first, make sure that foot is used first every time to ensure accurate readings.

 

Record the weight to the nearest decimal fraction (for example, 55.5 pounds or 25.1 kilograms).

 

Do this 3 times to get an average reading and round to the nearest .1cm. Record all numbers.

 

**Scroll down to the DOCUMENTATION section to assess correctly

 

DOCUMENTATION

 

If the child participates in the WIC Program, obtain a medical release form from the parent and request WIC Certification History Report so coordination with WIC Program can be arranged if the child is at risk. NO ADDITIONAL growth assessments are required if the child is a part of WIC. Data for height and weight need to be entered into ChildPlus.

 

Height and weight are documented as a Growth Assessment event in ELAFS ChildPlus.Net Guidance.

The BMI standards are adopted from the Center of Disease Control (CDC).

 

Underweight= Less than the 5th percentile

Healthy weight= 5th percentile to less than 85th percentile

Overweight= 85th to less than the 95th percentile

Obese= Equal to or greater than the 95th percentile

 

**For those who are underweight, overweight, and obese additional weight and height assessments need to be conducted monthly for 2 months after the first initial screening and again in the Spring with all the other children.

 

The screening results form should be sent home to the parent/guardian with a copy of the form filed in the child's family file. RECORD all screening results and conversations with parents under the notes section in the growth assessment event in ChildPlus.

 

 

HOW DO THESE RELATE?

 

Height and weight are vital in helping screen for overweight and obesity among the population and within a preschool setting but it not to be used as a diagnostic tool. Height and weight help determine a person's Body Mass Index (BMI). In an article published by the Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, it showed four struggles kids face when choosing fruits and vegetables over other alternatives. Kids feel fruits and vegetables are:

 

1. Unappealing characteristics of fruits and vegetables such as their smell

2. Child attributions for dislike such as liking fast food better

3. External influences on child dietary behavior such as other people feeding the child junk food

4. Competing parental demands such as not having time to cook an adequately balanced meal

 

Head Start teachers are responsible for providing nutrition education to over 1 million low-income children every year.

Yet, how much nutrition-related knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors do they have that sets a proper example for the kids?

• In a survey, only 3% of Preschool teachers answered knowledge questions correctly regarding nutrition.

 

 

In order to catch childhood obesity early, proper height and weight measurements need to be done to help the child early. It is preventable!

 

WAYS TO PROMOTE HEALTH WITH PRESCHOOLERS

 

There are some easy steps to promote health within your child in different settings

 

1. Start with a healthy breakfast at home

2. At childcare, make sure your child is engaging in indoor and outdoor activities and eating healthy meals and snacks

3. At the doctor's office, weight, height, and BMI are measured. There you will receive nutrition and physical activity counseling and support

4. Help your child choose healthy foods when attending the Farmers' Market

5. Make sure to walk with your child to the local park or school playground to play

 

Print all these and post them on your fridge at home with the flyer below!

 

 

 

 

 

 

IT IS IMPORTANT, BUT WHY?

 

Obese children are more likely to become obese adults ad suffer lifelong physical and mental problems. No one wants that for his or her child.

 

1 in 8 Preschoolers are obese in the US. 1 in 5 African American children and 1 in 6 Latino children.

 

5x Children who are overweight or obese as preschoolers are 5 times more likely than normal-weight children to be overweight or obese as adults.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Some states are showing a decrease in childhood obesity but not all are on board.

To find out more about this map, click on the link to the right.

 

 

How To Enter Into ChildPlus

 

This screening is done in the Fall and the Spring. In the Fall it is one of the 45 day requirements.

            ·      Enter the Event Date

            ·      Enter the child’s height and weight in the correct fields

            ·      Choose Status (Passed/tx Complete, Obese, Overweight or Underweight)

                                ChildPlus with give you the BMI percentage and will state the child’s status, enter this status in the “Status” drop down menu.

            ·      Agency Worker – Your Name

            ·      Notes- Timestamp your entry. Document discussions and follow-up with parent.       

 

 

REMEMBER:

 

Height and weight should be measured on the same day

Print out this small reminder of how these measurements should be done and post it in next to your equipment!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adapted from: Center of Disease Control (CDC) and
HealthyPeople.gov and

http://www.ijbnpa.org/content/9/1/64