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BACKGROUND: Mississippi (MS) Delta adults and youth report obesity rates far exceeding those of the state and nation. State law requires in-school physical activity and nutrition practices to address childhood obesity but does not require evaluation of outcomes, specifically the impact on weight-related outcomes. This paper offers 3 things: (1) describes the weight status of elementary school-age children in the MS Delta; (2) explains the importance of including waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) values when reporting body mass index (BMI); and (3) provides impetus for policy that requires weight-related health risk, as measured by WHtR, to be assessed regularly as a means to evaluate school health policy. METHODS: We took anthropometric measures in a cross-sectional investigation of 1136 children from 11 public elementary schools in the MS Delta. Measures included BMI, waist circumference (WC) and WHtR. RESULTS: The prevalence of overweight and obesity (BMI ≥85th percentile) was 47.1% (18.3% overweight and 28.8% obese). In this sample, 59.9% and 42.0% were 'at risk' for weight-related chronic disease based on WC (≥75th percentile) and WHtR (>0.5), respectively. The differences in these proportions were statistically significant. The predominantly black districts reported higher on all of the weight-related measures. CONCLUSIONS: Investigators recommend the assessment of health policy include measures of health risk in addition to BMI, namely WHtR as it accounts for growth in both WC and height over age. Furthermore, WHtR is a more accurate indicator of fat distribution and health risk than WC alone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Emergent evidence suggests a positive school climate may be a promising population‐level intervention to promote academic achievement and student well‐being. However, researchers have called for expanding the school climate evidence‐base to better describe how the construct is associated with student outcomes. The purpose of this study was to determine the associations between 10 school climate domains and academic achievement among middle and high school students. METHODS: ANOVAs were used to analyze survey data from 6–12 grade students in a Mid‐Atlantic US state (n = 2405, response rate: middle school = 82.4%, 50.5% female; high school = 62.5%, 56.1% female). RESULTS: Significant main effects were found for all school climate domains and varied between middle and high school students apart from academic support. Effect sizes ranged from small to medium, with academic support demonstrating the strongest effects among both middle and high school students. CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest school climate is associated with academic achievement for both middle and high school students. Correctly identifying the role of key aspects of school climate by grade‐level may provide improved and developmentally appropriate recommendations for the delivery of instruction and school‐based interventions that promote positive school well‐being and student performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND The aims of this study were to (1) examine the reactions of teachers and student teachers to children experiencing pain, (2) identify the most common challenges and potential resources that are associated to dealing with them, and (3) examine whether their responses differed as a function of their experience or sex. METHODS Forty teachers and 318 student teachers completed a survey which included descriptive information, a questionnaire that assesses different responses of participants to children who experience pain, and provides a list of problems and resources that participants might encounter and implement, respectively, when dealing with these children. RESULTS The study participants most often endorsed use of coping and health-promoting responses. Experienced teachers endorsed solicitous responses significantly more often than student teachers. Women reported responding more with solicitous responses than men. Absenteeism and the negative effect of pain on the ability of students to engage in school activities were the most common pain-related challenges mentioned by the study participants overall. CONCLUSIONS The findings emphasize (1) the need for developing guidelines to help teachers to help students experiencing chronic pain, and (2) the importance of including information about pediatric chronic pain in teachers training. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND Studies of body mass index (BMI) change have focused on understanding growth trajectories from childhood to adolescence and adolescence to adulthood, but few have explored BMI trajectories solely in elementary (grades K-5) school children. This report complements these studies by exploring changes in obesity status using analytic methods developed to investigate categorical changes in life-course events. METHODS Sequences of a 4-state BMI variable (underweight, normal, overweight, and obese) were calculated using height and weight data collected annually (2008-2013) from 414 kindergarten and first-grade students participating in the Community and Schools Together (CAST) project. These sequences were explored using the TraMineR software package to investigate the distribution of sequences and states, calculate transition rates among states, and examine clustering of sequences. RESULTS Aggregated cluster solutions were identified consisting of either 4 clusters (normal, stepped, mixed, and obese) or 3 clusters (aggregation of obese cluster cases into stepped cluster) with membership in the former predicted by ethnicity and socioeconomic status (SES) and the latter by SES alone. Transition rate patterns among states varied markedly by cluster and state. CONCLUSION The finding of early emergence of stable obesity states, especially in Hispanic children confirms the need for early childhood interventions to influence BMI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND The ability to understand and manage emotional experience is critical to children's health. This study confirmed the validity of the How I Feel ( HIF) Questionnaire, a measure of children's emotional arousal and regulation, exploring its associations with measures of emotional and social functioning. METHODS The sample was comprised of 1379 Italian students (aged 8 to 12 years) who attended schools interested in the study aims. Participants completed the 30-item HIF scale, and measures of emotional self-efficacy and social desirability (SD). Factor structures were assessed using confirmatory factor analysis. Invariance by age and gender, internal consistency, temporal stability, and concurrent validity were also tested. RESULTS A 3-factor model was identified: frequency and intensity of (1) positive emotion - PE (8 items, α = .82), (2) negative emotion - NE (12 items, α = .86), and (3) positive and negative emotion control - EC (10 items, α = .77). This factor structure was invariant across age and gender groups. The HIF displayed moderate longitudinal stability over a 15-month period and a low social desirability effect. Positive emotion was positively associated with social acceptance and visibility, and negatively with social withdrawal. CONCLUSIONS The HIF is a reliable and valid measure for research and school intervention promoting students' emotional and mental health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND Research suggests participation in sports is an important contributor to overall adolescent physical activity ( PA). Sports play has become increasingly important in physical education ( PE) classes as a means for promoting healthful and enjoyable PA. Research is needed that investigates physiological and perceptual responses to sport play. METHODS We studied 101 (55 males; 46 females, age 11-14) students who participated in flag football ( FF), basketball ( BB), and flag rugby ( FR). Activity counts were collected using accelerometers. Perceived competence and enjoyment were measured using the intrinsic motivation inventory. RESULTS Each sport activity produced acceptable levels of activity and positive perceptual responses, but differences among sports were noted. Accelerometry data indicated that FR and BB were more intense than FF (p < .001). Perceptual data indicated participation in FR elicited higher perceptions of competence and greater enjoyment when compared to FF and BB (p < .001). CONCLUSIONS Participation in sport activity within middle school PE classes provides excellent opportunities for energy expenditure and positive perceptual responses. Most importantly, FR provides an activity stimulus that has potential benefits both physiologically and psychologically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Food service directors have a concern that federal reimbursement is not meeting the demands of increasing costs of healthier meals. The purpose of this article is to report the food option changes and the annual revenues and expenses of the school food service environment. METHODS: The HEALTHY study was a 3-year (2006 to 2009) randomized, cluster-designed trial conducted in 42 middle schools at 7 field centers. The schools selected had at least 50% of students who were eligible for free or reduced-price lunch or who belonged to a minority group. A randomly assigned half of the HEALTHY schools received a school health intervention program consisting of 4 integrated components: nutrition, physical activity, behavioral knowledge and skills, and social marketing. The nutrition component consisted of changing the meal plans to meet 5 nutrition goals. Revenue and expense data were collected from income statements, federal meal records, à la carte sale sheets, school store sale sheets, donated money/food records, and vending machines. RESULTS: Although more intervention schools reached the nutritional goals than control schools, revenues and expenses were not significantly different between groups. CONCLUSION: The HEALTHY study showed no adverse effect of school food policies on food service finances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]