BACKGROUND Evidence for the effectiveness of state‐mandated body mass index (BMI) screening programs in the United States has been inconclusive, and potential unintended consequences of the programs have been debated. The present review aims to understand parents' perceptions of and responses to school‐based BMI screening, and to highlight racial/ethnic differences. METHODS We systematically identified studies published January 2003‐May 2019 examining parent and/or youth perceptions of and/or responses to US school‐based BMI screening. RESULTS A total of 16 studies were included in the review. Studies suggested that while parents largely found BMI screening helpful, they held concerns regarding stigma, lack of privacy, and unhealthy behaviors and attitudes resulting from school‐based screening. Furthermore, parents did not frequently follow‐up with health care providers, although they reported some healthy behavior changes. CONCLUSIONS Our review highlights existing parent perceptions of school‐based BMI screening including the potential for healthy behavior change and important concerns regarding weight‐stigma and disturbed eating attitudes/behaviors. Additionally, racial/ethnic differences in screening preferences and experiences were found. Limitations of existing literature included a need to understand youths' experiences and a lack of standardized, reliable outcomes research. Implications for future research and the role of parents, schools, and providers are discussed.

This study aimed to describe the experience of adolescents with Type 2 diabetes and their caregivers during medical encounters, in an effort to improve clinical care and outcomes in this population. Twenty-eight families were recruited from a Midwestern diabetes clinic. Adolescents (13-18 years old) identified as Black (50%), Caucasian (43%), and Hispanic (7%), with variable levels of glycemic control (glycosylated hemoglobin A1c ϭ 5.1-12.9%). Participants completed demographic and diseaserelated (adherence) questionnaires. Six adolescent and six caregiver focus groups were conducted and transcribed, coded, and systematically analyzed using principles of thematic analysis. Participants reported moderate to high rates of nonadherence. Qualitative themes indicated multiple factors influencing perceptions of the quality of provider-patient interactions. Participants' experiences of these interactions was affected by provider characteristics (e.g., gender, age), provider approach and communication style, systemic issues (e.g., long wait times), and caregivers assuming primary roles in medical encounters (e.g., more caregiver participation and caregiver disclosure of nonadherence). Focus group discussions provided rich information about the experiences of adolescents with Type 2 diabetes and implicate barriers in provider-patient interactions, including challenges in triadic interactions and communication around nonadherence, suggesting these areas should be considered in efforts to improve provider-patient interactions within this population.

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