A growing number of states are now requiring all students, kindergarten through 12th grade, to be assessed for “body mass index” (BMI) as part of a national effort to curb the # 1 threat to our nation's children, childhood obesity. BMI is calculated by assessing a student's height, weight, age, and gender. Most experts agree that while BMI is simple to calculate, it can misclassify a student as being “normal weight,” “at risk,” or “overweight” up to 50% of the time.

As a result, the Optimal Performance Calculator (OPC) classifies a student based on BMI plus an additional “two site” skin caliper assessment (tricep & subscapular) and a waist circumference measurement. This makes the assignment of the student to a normal, at risk, or overweight classification much more precise. Once a classification for each student is made, the OPC establishes a weight loss plan (1 lb per week for a student who is overweight and .5 lbs for a student who is at risk). Each student can then access an integrated diet program (based on the American Dietetic Association exchange system) so they can build a customized diet that honors their prescribed weight loss plan.

Resources Needed to use the OPC

• A teacher or healthcare professional (school nurse, athletic trainer, physician, etc) to perform assessment
• Tape measure to measure waist circumference
• Height chart, measuring tape, etc. to measure height
• Skin caliper to measure skin thickness at tricep and subscapular
• School district/teacher must secure OPC access codes from the NWCA so assessment data can be entered and student access codes can be obtained (for distribution to students)
  

Roles of the Teacher:

• Perform the following assessments on each student: height, age, weight, gender, subscapular and tricep skin caliper, and waist circumference. This should be performed once every 5 to 6 weeks.
• Enter the raw assessment data into the Optimal Performance Calculator
• Provide each student with their computer generated OPC access codes so they can view their individual assessment data as well as access the integrated activity tracker and diet menus
• Provide orientation for parents and students on how to use the OPC and the science behind the “food exchange” system. A dietician should be present to assist with the educational component.

Roles of the Student:

• Familiarize themselves with their personal body composition assessment data.
• Monitor the number of food exchanges consumed each day.
• Use of the OPC integrated diet component automatically keeps the student within the recommended daily goals of food exchanges.
• The student may chose to record his/her daily consumption of food exchanges into the OPC “Food Exchange” notebook and then enter the weekly summary into the OPC one time each week.
• Utilize the activity tracker to ensure he/she is exercising for a minimum of 60 minutes each day.