Mississippi children may be losing weight, as a recent study by University of Southern Mississippi researchers revealed.

Southern Miss professors of nutrition, social work, nursing, human performance and recreation and contributors from the Mississippi Department of Health studied data since 2003 that included 486,427 students in 888 public schools across the state. The Body Mass Index (BMI) of each student was computed and basic demographics were collected.

Data revealed that middle school students had the largest decline in weight in 2007 with 22.8 percent of children considered obese, compared to 28.9 percent in 2005. High school students also showed a decrease of 20.8 percent last year, compared to 23.5 percent in 2005. Elementary school children showed little change in obesity rates. The Centers for Disease Control and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommend the use of BMI to screen for overweight and obesity in children and teens from age 2-19. Equal to or greater than the 95th percentile is categorized as obese, 95th to 85th percentile is considered overweight.

Contributing factors to the decrease are not yet known, but a recent surge in healthy education awareness could have played a role.

"Perhaps we're educating parents better and principals are taking more steps on wellness," said Dr. Elaine Molaison, associate professor in the Department of Nutrition and Food Systems in the Southern Miss College of Health.

Even though the study shows a decrease, Molaison reminds Mississippians that obesity rates among children are still some of the highest in the nation.

"We will do this research again in 2009," Molaison said. "We'll also study how wellness policies are implemented. Are our schools really implementing those policies to their fullest?"

Therese Hanna, executive director of the Center for Mississippi Healthy Policy in Jackson, said these findings are encouraging.

"This is the first time we've seen such a change in a positive direction," Hanna said. "I've been very encouraged by what the legislature has done in terms of improving school nutrition, physical activity and health education - it's a comprehensive approach."

This research, published in the August 2008 Journal of the Mississippi State Medical Association, was funded by The Bower Foundation, an organization that has provided funding and assistance to create the Office of Healthy Schools with the Mississippi Department of Education. The Office of Healthy Schools offers a system of coordinated school health services to 152 school districts to assist them in developing organizations that make the connection between good student health and high academic achievement.

About The University of Southern Mississippi
The University of Southern Mississippi, founded in 1910, is a comprehensive doctoral and research-extensive university fulfilling its mission of being a leading university in engaging and empowering individuals to transform lives and communities.  In a tradition of leadership for student development, Southern Miss is educating a 21st century work force providing intellectual capital, cultural enrichment and innovation to Mississippi and the world.  Southern Miss is located in Hattiesburg, Miss., with an additional campus and teaching and research sites on the Mississippi Gulf Coast; further information is found at www.usm.edu.