NYS BMI Info

As part of a required school health examination, a student is weighed and his/her height is measured. These numbers are used to figure out the student's body mass index or 'BMI' and weight status group. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend the use of BMI to screen for overweight and obesity in children beginning at the age of 2 years of age.

Obesity is a critical problem for New York's youth, so legislation was passed in 2007 requiring that BMI and weight status group be included as part of the student's school health examination.

Each year, a sample of school districts is selected to take part in a survey for New York State Department of Health. When the ESM Central School District is selected to be part of the survey, we report information about our students' weight status groups to New York State Department of Health.

Only summary information is shared. Student names and individual student information are not included.

Parents who do not want their child's weight status group information to be included as part of the Health Department's survey, must notify the school nurse in writing by the first week of October. The written request needs to include the child's name, parent's name, signature and date.

The information collected by New York State Department of Health about the extent, severity and trends in childhood obesity prevention programs and policies to be evaluated.