In Medway Massachusetts the public school system is insisting the students are weighed and that their body mass index be calculated so that the school can determine if the child is obese or not.
They are early adopters of this trend and it may be coming to your school district soon.
The results are sent home with the student just like a report card would except it is a report card on the child’s fitness level.
Some parents are already fighting this claiming that the public school system and the state government has overstepped their boundaries and is showing no respect for the parents and pediatrician.
The potential risk with this is that the child will feel embarrassed or judged. Will they wonder if they are being watched every time they eat lunch, which can easily lead to an eating disorder after that.
The school system is probably thinking that someone has to take charge, but when are they going to actually teach the child how to eat, exercise and live a healthier life?
Is it going to be during that 1 hour period where they cut out gym class from most schools or is it going to be during math class when they teach them how to figure out their BMI?
Should the school system be allowed to require bodyweight measurements and have a fitness report card sent home to the parents or should they butt out and mind their own business?
Leave your comments below.
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http://www.foxnews.com/story/
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The teachers and administrators all better damn well be in perfect shape themselves before they tell an impressionable child that he or she is obese, and I seriously doubt that they are. This sets up a child to have a lot of problems; I think this is best left to the family to handle.
Schools first need to adopt healthier lunch options and incorporate nutrition into their physical education courses. I do think attention needs to be given to unhealthy habits. Not all but many obese children are in homes with obese parents and are not learning healthy eating habits. I guess agree with the school systems getting involved, and they are in the Pittsburgh, PA area.
I applaud the intent, but have grave concern about the execution. Schools travel a fine line between educating and taking on a parental role. Unfortunately, as evidenced by our growiing childhood obesity rates, parents are once again failing inhuge numbers.
The schools have no money and no programs to support their reports, so itleaves everything up to the parent … cycle=lose/lose/lose.
I’d rather seethem spend efforts educating parents AND students on wellness, health and nutrition and add back the hour of phys ed and recess every day. Make the school day longer and get it all in.
Hi Jayson, thanks for putting that up. Where’s the new mass. governor who should be fighting this? When will a “thought” report card be handed out. Personal trainers and nutrition experts should jump on the opportunities in that town, and show them what some know-how, personal responsibility, and good ol fashioned capitalism could do there. This is an example of government and schools wanting to take over parental roles and remove individual freedom. They must be stopped.
Its almost too late, because in the dreaded health care program, doctors will be collecting BMI and disseminating it to government.
Improve school lunch program, increase physical activity for all students, make “health” class mandatory every year to provide accurate information about all health issues, set employment requirements for faculty & staff, and make yearly confidential evaluations directly with all parents (parent/teacher conferences) concerning health & academic issues.
While I believe the intent is good the bottom line is that the schools also have a responsibility to encourage, promote and offer physical education courses. Due to budget cuts nationwide, Phys. Ed. programs at schools throughout the nation have been cut back. Does anyone recall the Presidents’s Council on Physical Fitness? Students used to participate in these programs and if they met specific physical criteria were issued medals. So, while the intent of the schools may be honorable, maybe they should report to parents what they are also doing to encourage physical activity and conditioning.
I agree on this policy, if the parents don’t take up the slack the school will at least let the parents know what is happening, I mean they do it with their grades, they have GYM and Fitness Education at school, so what is the difference?
If the government backs this is could save the person (children in question) MUCH worse health risks down the track if caught early and eating habits are changed.
Make physed mandatory again -outlaw video games!
Having a public school tell me that my child is obese would be like the fine people at Pro-Grade tell me that my math skills are not up to par and that I should get a tutor.
Hey teachers———SHUT UP AND TEACH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! leave the baby sitting duties to mom and dad.
Absolutely not. As mentioned above this may start out as a campaign aimed at health and fitness but what comes next is then up to their discretion. Let us decide how to raise our kids and let the education system do their job of educating, not judging our kids in addition to trying to become nutrition and health wardens.
WOW! There are alot of great comments here and all justified. I do agree on the school lunches being healthier, the teachers themselves being fit and if you really want to do something about obesity in children, it does start at home, however, to get the physical ed programs back into the schools would help in more than the strike on obesity, it would improve the memory of children too! So let’s pray that the schools do not take this under there wing and finagle it into the budget, which we know most are very low to begin with. One person can make a difference, so stand up for what you believe in!
Just a note, specifically to the comment Mike made.
I assure you that the TEACHERS had nothing to do with the decision in Mass. These kind of things ALWAYS are emanated from the School Board (elected officials) &/or the Administration.
Thanx.
I’m astonished that you framed this as a “mind your own business” or “should the schools be allowed…” issue. I don’t think it’s that at all.
First of all, should they be allowed? How about let’s turn it around and make the students do what we had to do when we were kids? We RAN for an hour at a time. If you couldn’t hack it, you failed.
Let’s just give the kids an ‘F.’ There, that’s better. And if Johnny fails PE, don’t pass him to the next grade.
What really is the difference between giving them an F and giving them a fitness report card? The report card, at the very least, is a starting point for a discussion. There may be some good info there. As in your kid’s gonna die before 30 if you don’t start doing something.
Mind your own business? Really? Is it the school’s “business” to ensure that you’re doing your job as a parent with respect to the mental side of things? Why, yes, they are. Why not the physical?
After all, a healthy body and a healthy mind go hand in hand, no?
Of course, I’m not familiar with the actual execution of the initiative. Maybe some more thought needs to go into it. But in concept, I don’t see how it’s a bad idea at all.
The school system must feel this is a problem, or they wouldn’t suggest..Did anyone watch Jamie Olivers food revalution on TV this spring.. the parents have let their child become obese, and now they are upset because someone is telling them the truth, they feel guilty, and are not
putting the interest of the child first…it’s all about me…poor parent someone told them something bad…oh poor babies, grow up and help your child, start with healthy eating and exercising, bikes / swim, do things the kids enjoy, keep them moving…cut out the McDonalds type eating all the time, because your lazy..THINK ABOUT THE KIDS…..
What a load of crap!!!
I mean…how ironic that our local schools are:
1. Eliminating gym because they can’t pay for a gym teacher (budget cuts).
2. Eliminating recess because they want to use that time to prepare the kids for state tests (which help the school districts with funding…NOT the kids).
3. Have vending machines that sell pop, sports drinks, “juice” boxes (some juice, sugar, HFCS, artificial colors & flavors, etc.), ice cream and other garbage because the schools gets a portion of the profits.
4. Serves calorie-dense garbage for lunch like pizza, french fries, chicken nuggets (deep fried yuck full of nasty ingredients and artificial crap).
5. Eliminating after-school sport programs due to budget cuts…unless the parents do a “pay to play” plan.
And then they have the nerve to weigh our kids and send home a report???
The schools and the government (local, state and federal) should stay out of it and let the parents work with the pediatricians to determine what is best for the kids. Thank goodness for people like Jayson Hunter and others that provide the TRUTH about fitness and nutrition.
I say read what “health advocates” like Jayson write. Learn from them. Then apply these priniciples to your own health as well as your children’s.
Thanks for sharing Jayson! Sorry about the “heated” response…this topic just really strikes a nerve with me. I am a parent of 5 children and these things really hit home.
Wishing you the best,
Pete
This is going to be the way to get the government health care you wanted it, well… you got it, and now seemed surprized? Schools will be the first step in the system “helping” those who they fattened up in the first place! What a “great society” this has turned out to be, I just can’t understand why everyone is so upset over the laws they ALLOWED TO PASS. In the future if you smoke or drink in the house and they find out… OH the HORROR.
PS: This is just the begining, just wait until they’re kickin down your door to check out the fridge! Oh and don’t forget the fines… there’s always the fines and the courts and the CPS then the government supervision… Ha Ha Ha, they truly have a “SUPER VISION” and the jokes on you.
Fat kids already know they’re fat, so please don’t subject them to further punishment. My local elementary school serves Chicken Nuggets and Tater Tots and thinks this is “balanced.” In recent years, the recess rules have eliminated just about any activity that would burn calories. Kids should grow up thinking running and jumping is fun and normal.
I think most school systems need to first provide healthy foods, nutrition education for students and families, and physical education that teaches the physical, emotional, and mental benefits of a healthy, active lifestyle. Being overweight is too much of a stigma as it is to risk adding fuel for the bullies (some of whom are teachers!) by singling out only obese students for “health” report cards.
One of the kids who was “borderline obese” according to BMI is a gymnast – a traditionally UNDERweight segment of children!
If anyone has seen school lunches (or worse, breakfasts), they will know the schools do little to help. Tell parents who send in more nutritious lunches they are banning candy – that’s all they do. Lunches are full of white rice, fried food, and greasy meat. Very little veggies – and salsa counts as a veggie. Not much fruit either.
Schools need to leave this to parents and doctors. Schools also need to have organized sports during recess rather than “free play” which consists of teachers sitting and gossiping while kids sit and talk!
There is a serious problem with the eating and health awarness of this Country. When I was in the military, I spent time in the Orient, and never saw a heavy Oriental over there. But now on the streets of America there are obese Orientals just like any other race that has had obeseity taged to them.
I don’t believe the schools should take part in the assessment of the shape and weight of our children. There is a psychological price that the child will pay if singled out as obese. And like has already been said, the teachers better be in good shape and of a reasonable weight before pointing the finger at anyone else.
If kids are obese then the parents are obviously doing something wrong. last time I checked dont buy there own food or prepare there food. This program will show parents that they are sending their kids down the wrong path and setting them up for failure. So what if it hurts the families feelings are hurt for a while, its a lot better then having a ten year old with joint pain and diabetes. IF parents were doing thier jobs properly im sure the school system would leave well enough alone.
If all parents were doing their job to raise a healthy, active child perhaps schools would not need to issue a health related report card. As an educator for fifteen years it is very frustrating to hear comments from clowns like “Mike”. Great teachers & schools teach the whole child. not only do we teach the required curriculum but make sure our students have core values as well (respect, friendship,
citizenship…skills) My school has been the pilot school for NOT giving food or treats as reward. We have also started alternative birthday celebrations where parents can come in and read a special book or play a game. Realize this…20 kids in a class can mean 20 cupcake parties! Yet there are parents and teachers who feel these sugary foods should remain in school. Our kids go to school to learn not to eat. As for structured recess, the research shows that students need 15 to 20 minutes unstructured play during the school day. It forces them to utilize creativity skills and increases productivity during the school day. In my school district there is a required amount of minutes in physical education classes each week. If the minimum amount is not met due to a holiday then the classroom teacher is required to make up the difference. Am I frustrated that so much is put on my plate as an educator? At times, yes, but I do it because I love my children. There was a first grade student at my school who weighed over 100 pounds. How can this not be considered child neglect? If you are doing your job as a parent then you need not worry. Instead give yourself a big pat on the back for doing your job to raise a happy healthy child.
Our school district has these “report cards” and they are really not anything to worry about. I mean really, if you are in athletics, it shows how many push ups they did when school started, then again at the end of the year. How fast they can run a mile, stuff like that. I have not seen on the fitness report card that states anywhere that your child is obese or is fat. It basically states what fitness level they are at in the beginning and again at the end of the school year. I think it is a great idea, espeacially for my athletic kids that I have, it shows their improvement!
My daughter struggles with her weight. At 12 she is 185 lbs. However to her credit she is tall for her age as well (5’5.5″ and wears a women’s size 11 shoe) Her Dad is 6’2” and she is taking after his side of the family as far as body type. We did a Scientific Experiment this year in which we asked the question: “Can you be healthy and overweight?” We looked at children in her age range for their weight classification (underweight, normal, overweight, and obese). We looked at (among other things) the Cholesterol level (from a clinic that I work for). Surprisingly, 1/2 of the overweight / obese children had normal cholesterol levels and 1/2 of the children that were underweight or normal weight had cholesterol levels above 200. While we may be looking at the obvious (a child that is overweight or obese), we are doing a disservice to our children who are “normal.” These “normal” children are being allowed to eat excessive amounts of junk food and foods rich in cholesterol because their meatbolism is high enough to keep the weight from showing up. Then we are picking at the overweight children making them self conscious about what they eat and how much they eat. If the schools want to do somehing constructive, don’t just single out the “chubby” children and neglect the “normal” children. Check out what they are serving to our chidren at lunch and what kinds of unhealthy junk food they are allowed to buy just because they have the money. Make some some real changes in the lunch / snack foods available to benefit all of our children. After all being overweight just makes you at increase risk of heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes. However, the high cholesterol is causing actual damge to the cardiovascular system, and putting our “normal” children at a greater risk of developing these diseases than just being “at risk” because they are overweight / obese. Last but not least, Who had the bright idea to replace physical education with computer technologhy classes? At least when we had PE, it gave us a chance to do something more than just let our fingers get all the exercise. The Bottom Line is remake the lunch program like Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution and get PE back in our schools from Head Start through College and beyond. Then all of our children will benefit and no one has to be singled out becuse of how they look on the outside.
Joy
Do you think that Prograde university would be willing to set up some kind of speaking program that goes to the schools? They could teach good solid information. Set up packages for families who really do want to make changes. Most education in schools is from typical weight loss programs and we all know they don’t work, nor are the foods really healthy.
A person can complain all they want about what is happening, but that doesn’t solve anything. The better question is what can be done about this crisis? There are families that eat a type of food because they can’t afford anything better. What do those families do? Can we solve this one challenge? Let’s face it white pasta is cheap, fast to make, and really stretches the budget along with the waist line.
Changes must begin within the home, but the will to do it must be there first. Educating the parents and teachers so that they can lead by example is the only way. The key is to convince the adults of the importance of becoming healthy for themselves personally. Then the kids will learn what is needed.
We keep catering to the kids feelings, don’t want them to stress out too much, don’t want them to know maybe they aren’t the best at something. No scoring in sports because little Jimmy can’t handle losing. That is the way the world works, some of us are athletes, some of us are math nerds, some of us love literature or the arts. We all win and lose sometimes. Not to mention, outside of certain medical conditions, every kid can win this battle and be within the range of nutritionally fit.
Everyone has strengths and weaknesses, everyone is judged all day every day in the real world, why coddle theses kids instead of preparing them. With the help of their parents at meal times every single kid could easily succeed at getting an A in nutrition. Not to mention this kind of scoring could extend their life by decades! Stop worrying about how parenting is going to be judged, realize that the main focus of this is not parenting strengths and weaknesses, it is the kids health. Your school district wants your kids to live long, healthy lives.
Kids get their parents to stop smoking all of the time as they learn about the dangers at school…lets start teaching them about the dangers of pizza, takeout and fat for breakfast, lunch and dinner…maybe they can influence mom to put out a few more salads!!
Also, remember you are on a website full of people who obviously care about their health and the nutrients they put in their families bodies….these report cards might not be directed at your kids. For every kid with a parent who really cares, there are dozens more who are neglected. Parents who put fast food on the table night after night, who send their kids to soccer games with a snickers bar and a liter of soda instead of oranges and water (I’ve seen it in person). These kids need help, these kids need the nutritional insight that they aren’t getting at home. One has to hope that if they are going to put bmi on the report card, then they are going to teach the kids what BMI is and how they can improve it.
Schools can’t and don’t even bother teaching basic literacy and math skills. Kids know when they are fat (other kids let them know) and parents often know. Having teachers (who half the time aren’t even doing their job of teaching the three ‘rs’) rate a child’s health is preposterous unless that person is in excellent health themselves.
Fine…improve school lunches. Go ahead and try. It will only happen if there is competition in public schools. Teachers Unions will make sure that there is no competition – just look at what is going on in DC right now. The unions agreed to let the super fire the worst performing teachers in exchange for higher salaries for high performing teachers. The super fired those teaches and now the union is going to file a grievance against her.
Schools/government/coercion is not the place to start with this concern.
Submitted by a parent of 5 who helped start charter schools and has served on charter school boards and has seen unions and school districts in action(and inaction).
I think it’s a great idea, it might make parents take a good look at what they are feeding their children and themselves. Healthcare is way too high these days, obesity issues are a huge part of that. We are the most obese country in the world. Isn’t that something to be proud of? Now our children are becoming fat because we have no time to feed them well. Pathetic really. I say scream it from the rooftops. Make time for home meals that are healthy. Quit going to McDonalds lazy bums!
With the role models today, no wonder these kids are fat. The schools hire fat
gym teachers, they grow up watching mom and dad sucking down beer and pizza
and we support competitive eat competitions. These are the hero’s.
I have always thought that school was supposed to prepare kids for life ?!! We give a mark for ”intelligence”, which is something that can’t be seen and a lack of it, and even an overabundace of it can’t really hurt you ?!! But when someone says your kid is fat people think that they will be _____________ for life !!!
A report card is, or was when I w, just that – A REPORT CARD !!!
It reports what is happening, to a child, at school !!
If parents don’t like seeing E’s Australia, or F’s in America, what do tey do about it ?
I have always thought that school was supposed to prepare kids for life ?!!
We give a mark for ”intelligence”, which is something that can’t be seen and a lack of it, and even an overabundace of it can’t really hurt you ?!!
But when someone says your kid is fat, people think that they will be marked for life !!!
A report card is, or was when I was at school, just that – A REPORT CARD !!!
It reports what is happening, to a child, at school (and in his/her life) !!
If parents don’t like seeing E’s in Australia, or F’s in America, what do they do about it ?
Normally they should get academic help to rectify the problem.
But if someone says your kid is fat, they call a lawyer !!!!!
If your child is fat, he/she eats more than he/she needs and doesn’t move enough !!
If you REALLY care about your child you’ll call someone like me, who can help you, and them, to be healthier.
Nobody ever really died from being stupid, but people die every day from being over weight, which is really stupid.
Education is not just reading, writing and arithmatic.
Get back to real values which will REALLY affect yours and your childs life !!!!!
Assessments are ONLY to be used if they inform curricular progress. Giving out report card grades for obesity in a school without a real nutritional/physical education program is like giving out grades for piano-playing ability when the school has no music program. Grade and assess only what is being taught.
As a former physical educator, a current physical therapist, certified trainer and personal training studio owner I am intrigued by some of the responses to Jason’s post. We certainly have very passionate opinions on this subject. I not only look at it from a former educators perspective but from the perspective of a parent.
I was a PE teacher in the days when the kids had PE everyday. 600 kids everyday would have PE with me and my assistants… everyday there was school. We did physical fitness testing at least three times a year (start of school, mid term and year end). We also did movement screens with every child from K through third grade. Our PE classes were highly structured. Every class started with 10 minutes of purely exercises followed by a structured lesson – no rolling out the balls and watching kids just “play”. We taught the kids about exercise and the human body teaching the muscles of the body (insertions, origins movements etc) to all levels (Yes Even Kindergarten). We even had written tests.
Why am I going on and on about what we did? To make this point – As good as our program was, for the most part overweight kids stayed overweight kids. Why? Because there’s not an exercise program in existence that can make up for a bad diet. And there were no programs in our curriculum addressing what they should be eating (which was probably a good thing considering what schools consider healthy).
Fast forward 20 years and my kids elementary school told us that we were to send to school with our kids only healthy snacks. If the snacks weren’t healthy they wouldn’t be allowed to eat them. Of course the same school cafeteria would serve chicken nuggets and tater tots and call that healthy.
Whats the point of my rambling. It’s this… Schools are not set up to the body weight czars. Wasn’t when kids had PE everyday… certainly isn’t these days when they have PE 2 -5 times a month. What’s the answer? Frankly I don’t know – but I know that getting a report card on my kids body weight certainly isn’t the answer.
When I had my son, I was well aware of the tendency on my father’s side of the family to become overweight because of a sedentary lifestyle… as I had myself become this way. I decided to be proactive and break the trend…. my husband and I decided that our son needed to be active… not like crazy having to run everyday or push athletics. Just be active… so we chose a sport… Tae Kwando which he started at around 7 years old. I also made sure his sugar was kept to a minimum…. a soda once a month…maybe. Pizza, taco bell, etc…. once ever few months….maybe. 98% of his diet is fresh veggies, good protein, some fruit, good sources of fat & stevia as a sweetener. All of this has been successful because I did one thing. I was very honest with my son and let him know what I was doing. He KNOWS Sugar is BAD for him. He KNOWS what high fructose corn syrup will do to him…. & now that he’s 15, he sees what happens when he even drinks 1 soda (instant breakout)
I guess what I want to say is, I think it’s okay that schools send a fitness report home…. as long as they are willing to educate these children on what they actually need to be eating…. start in kindergarten & I guarantee you will see a change. Children ARE impressionable… give them correct and prosurvival information, and they WILL use it. Get them interested in some kind of physical activity… it doesn’t have to be boot camp… just something they can engage in and have fun with, but start EARLY.
This boils down to the parents. It’s not the teachers job to become “mom and dad”. A teachers job is to reinforce good values(that being of a nutritiousand/or moral standpoint). I would like “MIKE” to teach 20 kindergarten children who have just been fed garbage for the last 5 years of their life and see how productive of a teacher he is. Then “MIKE” can have a parent come up to him and say “hey mike, shut up and teach”. Diet doesnt just affect BMI, it also affects their mental capabilities and how well they can retain what they are being taught. A teacher can only teach a child that has the ability to remain focused on the task at hand. Feeding your child garbage isn’t showing love to your child. It shows that as parents we are lazy, unmotivated and SELFISH! Get it into your head that you chose to PARENT. It is YOUR job to TEACH your OWN children how to eat properly. Teachers are here to reinforce that. Lets remember what our jobs are and execute them to the best of our ability.
Very good points and this is why they shouldn’t be eliminating gym classes in schools, which many already are to save money.
Jayson
@ Glenn
At least when there was PE (gym class) it helped to burn off some of those bad calories.
It of course isn’t the solution and we all know that there are multiple variables that need to be taken care of to have a healthy fit child. Physical activity at home and at school is one of biggest ones and a good healthy eat plan at home and at school is the other big one.
Jayson
I applaud it. Somebody has to say something. First off forget about thinking it’s judgment because it isn’t. Your kid gets a failing grade in math does that mean that the schools are calling them stupid? No. It means that there is a problem that needs to be addressed. So why does reporting a kid as being overweight have to mean they are calling them fat? It doesn’t. It means that there is a problem that needs to be addressed. Having said that I don’t think it’s enough because we know how inaccurate that Body Mass Index is and we also know that it is very possible to be fit and fat. I say bring back the fitness tests and include that. If a kid is 100lbs overweight but is running a 5 minute mile and doing push ups like they just came from the Marine’s I’d say something is going ok.
It takes a village to raise a child…and yes it is the schools business to look out for the welfare of the child. They just have to know what is good and what isn’t. From what I have seen of Jamie Olliver’s show the schools are next to clueless.
I think the schools should get involved. They are trying to help students and parents understand what needs to be done to keep their child healthy and fit.
No, the schools should not do this. Sets kids up for low self esteem.
If they are so worried then talk to the parents individually or if they must,
involve a social worker.
yeah they should have a control over the body weight of the teens bat not the schools, maybe just the medical part of the school in collaboration with their family medic and only in overweight persons that their body mass index is deadly
Many of you will reply to this comment. I understand. Pam R. and Pete have it on the nail for me. I don’t have kids. For many reasons, this situation is one of them. I am going to weigh in on this one anyway as obesity is a national health care crisis regardless of our age, it is something many of us have to fight everyday, year of our lives. Genetics people. Beyond that. There are other extenuating circumstances that school systems are not taking into consideration. Many medications that we all have to take, including children, cause weight gain. I was on an anti-seizure medication that added 30+ lbs to my 5ft 6 body. Like the sex discussion that many parents over the years have dumped on the school system to handle, now their kids’ health is ‘essentially’ being dumped on the school system as well. Echoing Pam R.’s comment. TAKE CARE OF THIS ISSUE AT HOME PARENTS. It is not the responsibility of the school to deal with your kids health. Weight is a health problem. Again. Pam R. says.(paraphrasing), quit taking your kids to McD’s (etc.). I understand the cost issues of living on a very tight budget. Yes. The schools have cut out PE and other essential programs and ARE STEPPING ON THAT LINE OF SPEAKING OUT OF BOTH SIDES OF THEIR MOUTHS (Paraphrasing Pete). Get your kids away from the video games and the potato chips and make them go outside and play.
Schools have also cut arts programs in favor of sports. But that’s another sore subject of mine and off the topic.
My daughters elementary school implemented a gym every day policy for 30 minutes each. Per my 10 year old daughter, they talk about what they are going to do for 20 minutes and they get to do the activity for 10 min. She said if they just stopped talking and let them play they would get the activity they need. Smart Girl. So on paper to the State it looks like the schools are doing their jobs. Obviously the kids aren’t getting the activity they claim and the schools will then point the finger back to the parent. I don’t agree with sending home report cards on kids weight. The charts don’t take the individual into account. Is she nearing puberty and has a few extra pounds but runs, jumps and plays all day. Then next year she will grow 3 inches and be a thin stunning beauty. Is he a little heavier in the winter because he eats but thin as a rail in the summer because he’s too busy to eat. Unless you are a doctor and can access each child you need to stay out of it. And they certainly need to stop pretending they are getting the kids their “daily exercise in”.
Whether you agree with this type of assessment or not, it is clear that the intent is to help our children, not embarass them or their parents. While this is one approach to a significant problem, I believe more efforts should be spent in helping kids develop good health habits in the first place. I wrote a book, “I Can Live to 100 – Secrets Just for Kids” to do what I can to help. For several years, I have given a talk to kindergartners about the concepts in the book. After one such talk, I was called by the Assistant Principal who explained that a parent was upset about my talk. Apparently, her child did not want to eat his/her sugary breakfast cereal the next morning because it was a “D” food. The parent was upset, the Assistant Principal was between a rock and a hard place, and I was happy as a clam! Score.
Hitting kids on the head with a negative report on their state of health could have a huge negative impact on kid’s self-perception/confidence. What good will come of reporting to parents – if the parents gave a damn their kids wouldn’t be in such poor condition to begin with. Parents have to be motivated to set the example, do the work, and maintain discipline in the face of temptation for sugar and undigestable fats. Anyone who wants their children to be healthy can find more than enough information to help their cause. The schools should be focused on providing more opportunity for exercise and better food available for snacks and lunches.
@ Melissa:
I do not think that children should be weighed and measured. Heavy kids are teased already, they don’t need be humiliated by their teachers. The public schools need to serve healthy food at lunch and breakfast. Kids need physical activity everyday! Not just recess, they need organized gym class, and fresh food, not just academics.
Nancy
The school systems need to add more gym class and serve healthy food to kids. I worked in an Elementary School lunch room, OMG the food was horrible. Most of the kids, (in this district) who are eating the fat laden food are the low income kids who get a free lunch and breakfast. The two free meals provided by the school are often the only meals these kids receive. Food is a real motivator to get kids to school. Lets start giving them something healthy. The teachers should absolutely not be weighing and measuring children.
Nancy
I dont think parents need to be told that their child is overweight because i’m sure they can see that themselves, instead what they should be told is how to ensure their child is healthy and of a healthy weight. This should involve teaching parents about nutrition and the importance of them engaging their child in daily physical activity. As well as of course the school itself providing healthy food options in the school canteen and having compulsory gym class.
In my opinion if parents dont know anything about proper nutrition how are they going to teach their children? So the school getting involved in encouraging a healthy body weight amongst children is not necessarily a bad thing, provided it is done in a tactful way. Id say a report card with a child’s measurements being sent home is rather pointless because parents are not blind – they can tell if their child is overweight just by looking at them, but seeing many parents themselves are overweight also, suggests they dont know hot to fix this. So tackling the roots of the problem through teaching proper nutrition and encouraging physical activity would be a lot more beneficial then sending a shopping list of measurements to parents stating the obvious.
Haven’t we lost the plot if our children are already fat by the time they get to school (medication to one side).
There is no doubt, this education begins at home from birth. As children develop they can become fat over time by eating too much and failing to move enough.
If we feed our kids rubbish and don’t encourage them to move more we all know what’s going to happen. It doesn’t take a NASA scientist to realise that they will get fat.
Surely it’s time for parents to take responsibility for their own children and stop passing the buck.
The message is simple……..let’s ensure that we (parents and children alike) eat less and move more.
I think it’s an absolute disgrace that schools are actually doing this. Its actually on the border line of harrassment. And schools should be absolutely ashamed of themselves. And by what means are they measuring a childs bodyfat?!…the BMI? If you live by the BMI then you must be some of the most uneducated people on the planet. The BMI is a height to weight ratio and that doesn’t EVEN MEASURE bodyfat!
I’ll give a nice example:
Child One:
210lb
Age 17
5’9
Extemely Lean and muscular
Plays Football
Child Two:
210lb
5’9
Age 18
Not lean at all and has stomach fat
In the Marching Band
Which child has the higher BMI?
ANSWER: They both have IDENTICAL BMI’s
The calcuation of the BMI is as follows:
(Body weight x 703) / (Height in inches)^2 = BMI
Here lets calcuated it our subjects:
Child one:
210lbx703= 147,630
5’9 = 69in^2 = 4,761
147630/4761 = 31.008 lb/in^2 BMI = EXTREMELY overweight
Child two:
210lbx703 = 147630
5’9 = 69in^2 = 4761
147630/4761 = 31.008 lbs/in^2 BMI = EXTREMELY overweight
The BMI takes no account how athletic, lean, muscular, or fit you may be. Its crazy i know.
Ever hear that nearly half of the country is overweight? Yep…thats the BMI too.
Wonder why some peoples insurance is so high…BMI
Lawmakers created this so us americans can do easier. Thats what we have become.
anything to do with the bmi should be tossed. the list of doctors and lecturers that have classified me as obese is large and growing. the irony is that i am healthier than ANY of them have ever been and i can literally run circles around them and not lose my breath. this doesn’t take into account my absolute strength, relative strength or the fact that i can run faster, jump higher, lift heavier, and work longer than any of them. the bmi is a huge pet peev with me. if schools want kids to be healthier educate them properly.
I am psychologist and fitness coach who specialises in ‘family obesity’ not just childhood or adulthood obesity. I had childhood obesity myself. The concept of measuring, weighing and fitness testing children is coming from people who have not had weight issues. All this will do is create eating disorders in both genders and self-esteem/body-image issues that have far greater impact then the policy makers will realise. The policies need to be psychological/emotional, educational, skill-based with a focus on nutrition and activity within the family as a whole. The parents need to be role models and more than likely they are role models for the kids, just the wrong type. You cannot ask a child to change without the family focused on supporting the changes and implementing these. The support system needs to be set up for parents to discuss issues and not feel embarrassed or deficient but supported. This is the only way things will change. This approach though is too hard, too time consuming and the policy makers do not want to know. Quick fix focus that on surface sounds good but has devastating and long-lasting psychological and physical impacts on the child.
They eliminate gym glass but take the time to measure their bodies?
WTF?
We all have a huge responsibility, as trainers, to help them put an end to this madness.
Thanks for posting.
Johnny Fitness
@ Melissa:
The problem is that families don’t understand theirself, if they did we wouldn’t be in this situation. We have to start somewhere!
Eating disorder? Last time I checked, obesity was an epidemic now plaguing children more than ever.
I believe that adults should lead by example and even more so school teachers aswell.
They would want to be in shape themselves or even better have a fitness proffessional atend the school and report on the staff and there measurements etc.
Ian
As someone who has struggled with my weight all my life, and has only been out of school for 6 years, I can tell you that I would have been absolutely mortified if I had been forced to be weighed at school and then had a report card sent home. Though during my high school years I was pretty physically fit due to the sports that I played year-round, I was always self conscious about my appearance and especially my weight. That is always a sensitive subject for teenage girls. That’s why so many of them have eating disorders. Plus, there is a growing number of males with eating disorders. Don’t get me wrong, I think schools should have to provide healthy lunch options and P.E. But I don’t think they have the right to send home something that tells the parents “Hey, you’re kid’s fat, do something about it.” I do think if there is a problem, the school (whether it be the guidance counselor, health teacher, etc.) should retain the right to have a private conference with the parents of an individual whom they are concerned about. They should be provided with education regarding wellness and a healthier lifestyle. I think education is the key here, and isn’t that what teachers are for? The people making the decisions to start this report card BS need to think about the psychological and emotional effects that this will have on these children.