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School Programs and Characteristics and Their Influence on Student BMI: Findings from Healthy Passages

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  • Tracy K Richmond
  • Marc N Elliott
  • Luisa Franzini
  • Ichiro Kawachi
  • Margaret O Caughy
  • M Janice Gilliland
  • Courtney E Walls
  • Frank A Franklin
  • Richard Lowry
  • Stephen W Banspach
  • Mark A Schuster

Abstract

Background: Little is known about the contribution of school contextual factors to individual student body mass index (BMI). We set out to determine if school characteristics/resources: (1) are associated with student BMI; (2) explain racial/ethnic disparities in student BMI; and (3) explain school-level differences in student BMI. Methods: Using gender-stratified multi-level modeling strategies we examined the association of school characteristics/resources and individual BMI in 4,387 5th graders in the Healthy Passages Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health. Additionally, we examined the association of race/ethnicity and individual BMI as well as the between-school variance in BMI before and after adding individual and school characteristics to test for attenuation. Results: The school-level median household income, but not physical activity or nutrition resources, was inversely associated with female BMI (β = −0.12, CI: −0.21,−0.02). Neither school demographics nor physical activity/nutrition resources were predictive of individual BMI in males. In Black females, school characteristics attenuated the association of race/ethnicity and BMI. Individual student characteristics—not school characteristics/resources-reduced the between-school variation in BMI in males by nearly one-third and eliminated it in females. Conclusions: In this cohort of 5th graders, school SES was inversely associated with female BMI while school characteristics and resources largely explained Black/White disparities in female weight status. Between-school differences in average student weight status were largely explained by the composition of the student body not by school characteristics or programming.

Suggested Citation

  • Tracy K Richmond & Marc N Elliott & Luisa Franzini & Ichiro Kawachi & Margaret O Caughy & M Janice Gilliland & Courtney E Walls & Frank A Franklin & Richard Lowry & Stephen W Banspach & Mark A Schuste, 2014. "School Programs and Characteristics and Their Influence on Student BMI: Findings from Healthy Passages," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 9(1), pages 1-7, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0083254
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0083254
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Mary Kay Fox & Allison Hedley Dodd & Ander Wilson & Philip M. Gleason, 2009. "Association Between School Food Environment and Practices and Body Mass Index of US Public School Children," Mathematica Policy Research Reports 5434561de1384ada875d93f18, Mathematica Policy Research.
    2. repec:mpr:mprres:2443 is not listed on IDEAS
    3. repec:mpr:mprres:6163 is not listed on IDEAS
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    Cited by:

    1. Patricia C Cheung & Padra A Franks & Michael R Kramer & Christi M Kay & Carolyn D Drews-Botsch & Jean A Welsh & Julie A Gazmararian, 2019. "Elementary school physical activity opportunities and physical fitness of students: A statewide cross-sectional study of schools," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 14(1), pages 1-12, January.

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