RESUMO
BACKGROUND: The Government of Guam passed Public Law 28-87, which established the collection of child Body Mass Index (BMI) measurements in the Guam Department of Education (GDOE). This paper aimed to analyze the BMI data and report the childhood obesity prevalence on Guam. METHODS: Secondary analysis was performed on a repeated cross-section of 106,827 children in the GDOE from 2010 to 2014. Age- and sex-specific prevalence estimates and 95% Confidence Intervals (CI) by weight status were calculated for each year. Test for trends in the high weight status were performed. RESULTS: The childhood obesity prevalence was 23.1% (95% CI, 22.9%-23.4%). It declined from 23.6% (95% CI, 23.1%-24.1%) in 2010-2011 to 22.6% (95% CI, 22.1%-23.0%) in 2013-2014 (p=.007). CONCLUSION: Childhood obesity on Guam has declined, though it remains higher than the U.S. Mainland. Continued BMI data collection is needed to monitor childhood obesity and measure the impact of Public Law 28-87.