State‐mandated school‐based BMI assessments and self‐reported adolescent health behaviors

Datos Bibliográficos

ID11684602
AutoresBrandyn F Churchill (0000-0002-9798-5701, University of Massachusetts Amherst Amherst Massachusetts USA, autor de correspondencia)
Año2023
Volumen43
Número1
Páginas63-86
Fecha de publicación2023-08-27
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaJournal of Policy Analysis and Management (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 0276-8739 • E-ISSN: 1520-6688
EditorialWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1002/pam.22523
OpenAlexW4386221670
IdiomaEN
Referencias citadas95

I provide novel evidence on the role of imperfect information in shaping childhood obesity. Between 2003 and 2017, 24 states began requiring schools to perform Body Mass Index assessments on students. Using the 1991 to 2017 National and State Youth Risk Behavior Surveys and a stacked difference‐in‐differences identification strategy, I show that these state‐mandated school‐based BMI assessments were associated with an increase in the likelihood that teens described themselves as overweight and reported that they were trying to lose weight. The relationship was most pronounced for overweight teens, suggesting that the assessments improved awareness about BMI status among this group, though I also find that non‐overweight teen girls were subsequently more likely to incorrectly describe themselves as overweight. While I do not detect meaningful changes in exercise or calorie‐limiting behaviors, I do find that these state‐mandated school‐based BMI assessments were associated with a modest reduction in BMI

Adolescent Obesity · Body mass index · Childhood obesity · Developmental psychology · Environmental health · Limiting · Obesity · Overweight · Sociology · Behavioral Health and Interventions · Demography · Medicine · Obesity and Health Practices · Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet · Psychology · Gerontology