What Schools NEED to Know
for Measuring Height and Weight
Indiana Department of
Education
• The intent of collecting and analyzing this data is to screen
our children to determine the prevalence of overweight and
obesity in Indiana children and the pattern of overweight over
time.
• Data collected will be used to create policies and programs
that promote healthier environments for our Indiana children.
• Your participation in this effort is noteworthy and much
appreciated.
What You Need:
For Measuring Height:
Tape Measure (provided). Please cut tape measure so that
the 0” is on the floor and the top of tape measure is at 7 feet.
Place the tape straight up and down securely on the wall or
door.
-Rafter Square (provided)
For Measuring Weight:
- Use a balance beam scale if it’s available. Any properly
working scale is acceptable. The scale must be calibrated at
0 before measurements begin.
How to Prepare the School:
-Work with classroom teachers to schedule measurement times
that have the least interruption of instructional time.
-Choose a measurement space that will ensure the privacy of
students where only screeners can observe and hear the
results.
-Identify staff to do the measurements.
-Inform students of the screening process.
-Parental consent will be active parental consent.
How to Measure Height:
1. Have student remove shoes, heavy
clothing, hats, and barrettes.
2. Have student undo hairstyle that
interferes with measurements.
3. Have student stand with back and
feet against wall on a flat surface.
The measuring tape should run
down the center of student’s back.
4. Weight should be evenly distributed,
shoulders relaxed, legs straight,
arms at side, and buttocks and
shoulders should touch the wall.
Directions Continued…
4. Have student look ahead and inhale
deeply without allowing heels to rise off
floor.
5. Place rafter square against wall and lower
it until the square firmly touches the crown
of the student’s head.
6. Hold square while student moves out from
under square.
7. At eye level, record the measurement at
the lower edge of square and measuring
tape. Record to the nearest .25 inch.
How to Measure Weight:
1. Place scale on a solid level floor and be
sure scale is balanced or calibrated at 0
lbs.
2. Have student empty out all objects in
pockets and remove any bulky clothing
(no jackets).
3. Have student stand with back against
beam or readout with both feet centered
on platform.
4. Record weight to nearest 0.5 lb.
5. Return scale to zero or clear display
window.
How to Record Measurement:
-Use a separate page for each day data is collected.
-Enter date as mm dd yyyy. Example: 09 23 2005.
- For each student record:
-
Student name
-
Student test number (STN)
-
Student height (in) Example: 48.25”, mark 48.25
-
Student weight (lbs) Example 61.5 lbs, mark 061.5
Measurement
Date
10 1 2005
10 1 2005
10 1 2005
Student Name
Doe, Jane
Indiana, Robert
Wabash, Sage
Student Test
Number
123456398
234566353
345245256
Height
4 8 . 2 5 in
.
in
6 0 . 5 0 In
Weight
6
1
1
1 .
.
0 .
Comment
5
0
lb
lb
lb
A
For the comment portion, use the following coding:
A) Student absent
C) Child refused
R) Parent refused
D) Student unable to stand without support due to disability
P) Student pregnant
O) Any other reason
How to Report Height and Weight Measurements:
-Reports are to be submitted electronically to IDOE by May 1, 2006.
-Schools will be notified of the e-address to submit reports.
-Reports should be prepared in Excel (comma delimiting) format.
Save report as .cvs or .xls.
-Student names must be removed before submitting the report.
-Instructions can be downloaded from the ISDH website:
http://www.in.gov/isdh/programs/cnop/index.htm.
Privacy and Confidentiality
-The aim of the height and weight data collection is not to determine if
individual students are overweight or obese. Please do not comment on
student’s height or weight.
-If a student asks for results of height of weight, write down the data
without student’s name and hand it to student without comment.
-If a student is emotional or makes a negative remark, it is appropriate to
be supportive or refer them to a school counselor or school nurse.
-Height and weight issues are very personal and private to students. The
name of student and the STN will not be shared with the Indiana
State Department of Health. The data will be aggregate corporation
data.