November 8, 2007 - West Virginia is making efforts to identify at-risk individuals before they actually become obese by giving doctors body mass index (BMI) calculators and training them to interpret the results. State officials propose BMI screenings for children as early as kindergarten and additional screenings in second, fifth, and eighth grade.

A person’s BMI is a calculation derived from weight and height and indicates a measure of body fat. The number is then associated with a weight group for adults and a percentile ranking for children, which can be helpful in screening individuals for potential weight and health problems. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, BMI can be considered a reliable alternative for direct measures of body fat.

Ranked the third "heaviest" state with high rates of obesity among adults and children, West Virginia is aiming to detect obesity risk in children as early as possible. Reducing obesity will not only offer a healthier lifestyle, but also lower health care costs. Currently, West Virginia spends about $100 million on obesity-related costs per year. An inexpensive method, BMI screenings will likely decrease these costs as well as the number of obesity cases in the state.

The national epidemic of obesity has been covered in many Institute of Medicine reports. The 2005 report Preventing Childhood Obesity: Health in the Balance states that the national direct and indirect health care costs related to overweight and obesity ranged from $98 billion to $129 billion in 2004. It found that while the obesity epidemic is relatively new, it is widespread and disproportionately affects those with the fewest resources to prevent it. The report recommended that schools measure students' weight, height, and BMI annually and provide the results to parents.

To follow up, the 2007 report Progress in Preventing Childhood Obesity: How Do We Measure Up? said that the country is beginning to recognize childhood obesity as a major public health epidemic that will incur substantial costs to the nation. However, the current level of investment by the public and private sectors still does not match the extent of the problem. The report proposes a call to action for key stakeholders to lead and commit to childhood obesity prevention, evaluate policies and programs, monitor progress, and disseminate promising practices.

• Preventing Childhood Obesity: Health in Balance
• Progress in Preventing Childhood Obesity: How Do We Measure Up?

• Centers for Disease Control BMI Fact Sheet