Expert Fears Schools’ Body Mass Report Cards May Expose Some Kids to Teasing
Posted on September 24th, 2003 by Anthony K. Valley
In Arkansas, a Health Report Card that indicates the student’s Body Mass Index (BMI) is under fire from some parents, teachers and professional who disagree with this idea.
(AgapePress) – A new program in Arkansas to fight childhood obesity by sending home body fat “report cards” is drawing fire from some who feel the program may be counterproductive.
This year the State of Arkansas will be testing every school child’s body mass index (BMI), which is an indicator of body fat based on height and weight. The results will be sent to parents next spring in the form of health report cards. But not all parents and teachers like the idea.
Dr. Nancy Krebs, chairwoman of the American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Nutrition, believes the obesity test is counterproductive. She fears that the process of testing students and categorizing them numerically may result in some children being stigmatized.
“A number by itself is not very meaningful. It really takes some interpretation. And I think young children are definitely at risk for teasing and this being related to how they’re feeling about themselves. Their weight shouldn’t define their self esteem—nor should a BMI,” she says.
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Source: Agape Press
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In a speech to the annual meeting of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Dr. Richard H. Carmona, the surgeon general, urged pediatricians to do more to combat childhood obesity, noting that many overweight children became overweight adults. “We must teach our children to enjoy healthy foods in healthy portions,” he said. Over weight people are more likely to have hypertension, arthritis, stroke, high blood cholesterol levels, diabetes and some kinds of cancer.
I would like to know more about this subject. Is it in fact productive or is it destructive? The people in my district are going to be voting on the bill, should it be passed? Will this bring forth more problems such as eating disorders? Or will this inspire young people to lose weight?