Roughly one in three Nevada kindergartners is either overweight or obese - a rate largely unchanged over the last two years - according to a new survey issued by the Nevada Institute for Children's Research and Policy (NICRP) at UNLV. The annual survey of the state's school districts indicates about 16 percent of children are not covered by health insurance and 28 percent have not received routine dental care in the past year.
For the last three years, the Nevada Kindergarten Health Survey has assessed the overall health status of children entering school. In fall 2010, the NICRP administered the 27-question survey to the state's 17 school districts to gather information about insurance status, routine care, immunizations, access to care, mental care and weight and healthy behaviors. The goal is to help identify trends in children's health at a young age to guide health policy and generate solutions to the school level.
"Studies have proven that access to healthcare for children can contribute to increased academic success," said Tara Phebus, associate director for the NICRP. "Childhood obesity is a national concern, and, while we can't expect numbers to change overnight, we have to continue support programs that encourage good nutrition, diet and exercise."
More than 10,000 surveys were collected. Among the findings:
- 34 percent of kindergartners are either overweight or obese
- 16 percent have no health insurance coverage
- 28.9 percent have not received routine dental care in the past 12 months
- 44 percent have already had a cavity
- 54 percent of uninsured children are Hispanic, the largest of all racial/ethnic groups
The survey also indicated that families are earning less income compared to previous reports. Additionally, the number of children covered by private insurance is decreasing while enrollment in public insurance is increasing (Medicaid or Nevada Check Up).
The Nevada Kindergarten Health Survey is a partnership between UNLV, the Nevada State Health Division, Southern Nevada Health District and 17 Nevada school districts.
To access the full report, contact the NICRP at (702) 895-1040 or visit NICRP. Researchers expect to continue to track the health status of Nevada's incoming kindergarteners and distribute the survey annually to parents throughout the state.
The UNLV research team included Denise Tanata Ashby, Amanda Haboush, Tara Phebus, Jennifer Waddoups and Enrique Lopez from the NICRP in the School of Community Health Sciences. Representatives from the Southern Nevada Health District, Clark County School District and the Nevada State Health Division and Nevada School District Superintendents also participated in the project.
