Perceptions of School Nurses Regarding Obesity in School-Age Children

Abstract

Obesity is epidemic in the nation’s school-age population with African American and Hispanic children and adolescents specifically at risk. School nurses at elementary and middle public schools in the Missouri 8th Congressional District were surveyed regarding their perceptions of childhood obesity. School nurses supported preventive interventions and were knowledgeable of the risks of childhood obesity but were less accepting of treatment and counseling for obese children in the school setting. One third of the school nurses did not recommend treatment for weight loss, and half of the nurses provided overweight children with counseling and referral only when parents asked for help. Perceptions of school nurses regarding childhood obesity identified in this study included the following: (a) counseling for obesity is difficult, (b) parental support is lacking, and (c) competence in providing counseling is low. These perceptions are barriers to school nurses taking a more active role in the prevention and treatment of childhood obesity.