The Arkansas Center for Health Improvement has collected BMI and other demographic information on all public school children in the state for the past five school years (2003-2004, 2004-2005, 2005-2006, 2006-2007 and 2007-2008).  This was done through local primary data collection (weighing and measuring the height of each student) and through linkages with the Department of Education Arkansas Public School Computer Network database. ACHI obtained access to this information through Arkansas Act 1035 and received UAMS IRB approval to generate the published reports.

To date, all available data can be obtained from our website including generated school reports, district reports, and the State Reports.  ACHI will continue to support local school districts in this mandate and support longitudinal assessments of each child’s results over time. 

While future opportunities may exist to develop research collaboratives, data sharing is not currently available due to resource constraints, HIPAA and IRB restrictions.

Jennifer L Shaw DrPH, MPH, MAP Research Associate of Health Data and Statistics, is available to answer your questions concerning BMI research efforts.  Inquiries can be sent to  ShawJenniferL@uams.edu or she can be reached at 501-526-2264. 

Other inquires about ACHI’s BMI initiatives can be sent via email.