Learning from State Surveillance of Childhood Obesity 

This research, published in the March 2010 issue of Health Affairs (Health Affairs, 29, no. 3 (2010): 463-472) examines the lack of accurate data for measuring the childhood obesity epidemic in America and how state-level body mass index surveillance may be the best tool for gathering this information.

This paper examines the current methods employed in various states to conduct BMI surveillance and concludes that the use of electronic state health and immunization registries may be the most effective tool for gathering childhood BMI data.

The paper concludes that state and federal policy changes are needed to encourage the use of state health and immunization registries for BMI surveillance, including changes to data privacy laws, interoperability standards, and assistance to help states expand their registries to collect BMI data.