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| Tuesday, August 10, 2010 |
| A BMI Report Card for Kids? |
Back to school time inevitably means thinking about report cards. Over the past few years, many schools have considered sending home a “Weight Report Card” for their students. The report cards inform the parents that their child’s BMI is above the normal range. BMI (Body Mass Index) is a calculation using height and weight to estimate or indicate how much body fat a person has. BMI is calculated differently for adolescents so that it can take into account age and sex. The idea of the report cards is to let parents know (in case they don’t) that their child is either overweight or obese. The topic has recently come up again as the childhood obesity rate continues to increase.
About 6 years ago, an Arkansas school became the first school to send out weight report cards. They also started to track the weights of public school students. Along with the weight tracking, they started teaching kids about the health issues associated with being overweight. Students learned that they are more likely to develop heart problems, high blood pressure, arthritis and diabetes if they are overweight. If they are overweight or obese, a report card is sent home along with their science and math grades and parents are expected to help their child lose weight.
Some health officials were very much against this idea when it started in Arkansas. They felt that it would make children feel like they were a failure if they did not pass the weight grade. They also were afraid of singling children out and making them feel insecure. Many parents had the same feelings. In fact, many parents complained when their child received a “failing” grade in weight. They too stated they felt their children were being singled out. They were worried that this would hurt their feelings.
Personally, I think a weight report card is a great idea if the school is going to help the parents take action. I don’t see it as any different from telling a parent that their child is failing math. Today, many parents work late or work two jobs just to support their family. It’s easy to see how their child’s weight could fall to the bottom of their list of priorities. Often times, the child suffers. An overweight teenager is very likely to become an overweight adult. An overweight adult is more apt to suffer from heart disease, diabetes, stroke and high blood pressure. If a weight report card brings the situation to the parent’s attention, then I think it’s a good thing.
That being said, I do believe the schools that are sending these report cards should also take the lead in helping the kids lose weight. Serving healthy lunches would be a great start. Teaching kids about label reading would be good as well. At least the schools could refer parents to a local dietitian. Even basic nutrition information may not be available to these kids. With all the crazy diets these days, the parents may turn to a quick fix if they feel they are being blamed for the child’s weight. If schools and parents work together, the report card idea could really work. Children who don’t “make the grade” need to start having better eating habits and exercising more. Hopefully the schools will provide an outlet for appropriate exercise. The report cards also help create a support group. One child may want to lose weight but have no guidance. If a few kids fail the report card, they then automatically have some allies in this fight.
Overall, I agree with this idea. It’s seems so simple to say if you are failing a subject, fix it. People go to tutoring for math and reading…why not weight? With the rate of adolescent obesity as high as it is, I think kids need all the help they can get. These report cards just may be the eye opener or the push that some kids and parents need. To the parents who are afraid to hurt their children’s feelings I say that’s ridiculous. Being overweight and obese can negatively effect your child in so many ways. Having a grown up, real discussion with your child can avoid having your child feel hurt or attacked.
That’s my take on BMI Report cards. What do you think?
- Jennifer
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If you like this article, you might also enjoy…
Sensei Talks: Social and Economic Status Linked to Childhood Obesity
Sensei Talks: Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution Continues Labels: Body Mass Index, Childhood Obesity, Jennifer
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posted by My Sensei @ Tuesday, August 10, 2010   |
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| 2 Comments: |
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Such a complex thing. I do think we need to be so aware of this. Just yesterday I heard about how young girls are entering puberty & some of this may have to do with weight, food etc. but they are not sure yet.
My prob.. when I was young & very shy & overweight & just having trouble not hating myself, they would weigh us in front of the whole group of kids. We stood in a line & everyone saw what you weighed. This still resonates with me to this day.... how bad I felt about it & myself & the teasing from kids. And kids now are even meaner & use the internet to blast it.
I think if they do this & it could help, they need to establish a positive way to handle it. Weighing in private. A better way to "grade" the kids & yes, positive steps to help them but not making it obvious that they are the heavy ones. We still have to take into consideration the mental health of kids & it is already hard enough when they are heavy.
Complex issue but maybe better ways to do it.
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Knowing your BMI is important. Using the BMI, we can know whether our weight is normal or not. Thanks for sharing that info.
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Such a complex thing. I do think we need to be so aware of this. Just yesterday I heard about how young girls are entering puberty & some of this may have to do with weight, food etc. but they are not sure yet.
My prob.. when I was young & very shy & overweight & just having trouble not hating myself, they would weigh us in front of the whole group of kids. We stood in a line & everyone saw what you weighed. This still resonates with me to this day.... how bad I felt about it & myself & the teasing from kids. And kids now are even meaner & use the internet to blast it.
I think if they do this & it could help, they need to establish a positive way to handle it. Weighing in private. A better way to "grade" the kids & yes, positive steps to help them but not making it obvious that they are the heavy ones. We still have to take into consideration the mental health of kids & it is already hard enough when they are heavy.
Complex issue but maybe better ways to do it.