Engaging Head Start Families in Childhood Obesity Prevention: School-Home Communication about Children’s Height and Weight Screenings

Abstract

Head Start provides children with healthy, nutritious meals, physical activity opportunities, and health screenings, all of which are important components of combatting early childhood obesity. Communicating health screening information about a child’s weight status to parents is one way to engage families in childhood obesity prevention efforts. This article describes a process that was used to develop and evaluate strategies for communicating with Head Start parents about their child’s Body Mass Index.