Since Act 1220 of 2003 spearheaded initiatives to address obesity among school-age children in Arkansas, the state has collected statewide student body mass index (BMI) data for more than two decades — creating one of the nation’s longest-running school-based systems for monitoring childhood obesity. Public schools measure height and weight for students in kindergarten and even-numbered grades through grade 10, with more than 98% of Arkansas public schools contributing measurements as part of the 2024-2025 assessment.
This report summarizes statewide results, including BMI classifications by grade, sex, county, and race and ethnicity. Beginning this year, the report includes severe obesity as a separate BMI category based on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s extended growth charts, which better capture very high BMI levels in children and allow for more detailed tracking of trends over time.
Key Findings
- 40.1% of students with valid BMI measurements were classified as overweight, obese, or severely obese, the same overall percentage as the previous school year.
- 8.8% of students were classified as severely obese.
- 31.5% of kindergarten students entered school classified as overweight, obese, or severely obese — a percentage that increased through grade 6 before leveling off.
Statewide BMI data are used by schools, school districts, and state agencies to inform student health and wellness initiatives, support local planning, and strengthen grant applications. The data have also facilitated research efforts to study the impacts of childhood weight status on later health outcomes and healthcare spending, providing additional context for prevention and policy efforts in Arkansas.
