Letting school do a BMI on child?

MommytoKKC wrote: Ohio has passed a law that all schools have to do a BMI on children and submit the results to the state. Since my girls go to private school, for us it is an option. I have to decide if I want to let them do it. Part of me thinks it is no big deal, but the other part of me thinks it really isn't the school's place. My girls can get that done at the doctor. And I'm not sure I like them having the information. What are they going to do with it? Plus, I can just see kids comparing their BMI numbers and then feeling bad if they are one of the biggest. I guess I'm leaning towards not doing it but just wondered what other opinions are.

my2monkeyboys replied: The school system was initially set up to teach reading, writing, and math. Anything beyond that is the parent's responsibility and should NOT be handled by the school.
I think our government is continuously trying to over-step it's bounds and take more and more control. So, no, I would not let them do it.
Some may think I'm paranoid, but that's my opinion.

julesmom replied: My kids are in public school in NY. A letter went home that we could sign if we wanted to opt out of the BMI thing.

coasterqueen replied: Um what's a BMI?

MommyToAshley replied: I am usually up on things like this, but I hadn't heard about it. They must have snuck that one in under the radar.

Anyways, I think I remember having something similar done in gym class? Maybe? Did they say what the point was? Is it for research, statistical purposes? Is it for tracking progress in gym class or to see if nutritional changes in the school policy are having an affect? Not sure I understand WHY they want this number adn WHAT it is going to be used for. Once those questions are answered, then I would make a decision. Otherwise, I would opt towards not doing it.

mummy2girls replied:
body mass index i think... it shows how mauch flub you have....LOL.. I think for kids in this world with teasing and bullying and such this should not be forced!!!!

MommytoKKC replied: It is supposedly to go for research- so the state can track how many kids are overweight. Maybe they will use the info to increase funding for ways to decrease obesity? I'm not really sure. What I am concerned about is the info being released to other parties. I guess I am also of the mindset that school is for teaching. I take care of my kids just fine and don't need the school doing my doctor's job. But the school is really high pressuring everyone to do it. But I guess I can just be my normal defiant self and do my own thing

MommytoKKC replied: Dee Dee, if you want to know about it more, it's called the Healthy Choices for Healthy Children Act and it's Ohio Senate Bill 210

amymom replied: "Measuring the body mass index (BMI) of students in schools is an approach to address obesity that is attracting much attention across the nation from researchers, school officials, legislators, and the media. In 2005, the Institute of Medicine called upon the federal government to develop guidance for BMI measurement programs in schools."

The above is off the cdc's website. So much fun, this goverment intervention!!!

Obesity! can be fought with cutting down on video game usage and giving kids more recess! But best left for parents to worry about not schools.

msoulz replied: Web MD

Should NOT, IMHO, and here is why (excerpt from above):

But while it is a simple, inexpensive method of screening for weight categories, it is not a diagnostic tool. Health professionals need to do further assessments to fully evaluate health risks. These assessments would include measurements of body fat percentage, diet history, exercise patterns, and family history.

Further, BMI does not take into account age, gender, or muscle mass. Nor does it distinguish between lean body mass and fat mass. As a result, some people, such as heavily muscled athletes, may have a high BMI even though they don't have a high percentage of body fat. In others, such as elderly people, BMI may appear normal even though muscle has been lost with aging.

Do we really need another number assigned to our kids that may or may not be accurate?

jcc64 replied: Got the opt out letter from our school district, which seems like the best way to handle it.
For people that have an issue with it, do you also have issues with the school doing hearing/vision/ht./wt/scoliosis screenings as well?
These mass screenings are done for several reasons, not the least of which is to catch those children who may not have access to private health care. For those of us whose children regularly see a dr, it seems unnecessary, but maybe for some, maybe it's a blessing, idk.
Schools test, gather data, report to the state. That's what they do. Is it somehow worse that they know my kids' BMI, when they already know their IQ, grades, test scores, other medical information, educational plans, etc.? Why is this worse?
I am generally a very paranoid, cynical person, but in this instance, I'm sort of in the what's-the-big-deal camp. Either you pull your kid out and drop off the grid, or you accept the fact that you and your kid are another cog in the state's wheel. I'm in the latter group, I guess.

jcc64 replied: Oh and one more thing, I can assure you, the school districts themselves take no pleasure in administering yet another test at the state's request.

luvbug00 replied: needless to say so many kids are obese however this is not the schools responsibility.
I'm mad enough they stopped serving chocolate milk!

MommyToAshley replied:
I am guessing the reason that people are upset is because it puts an emphasis or draws attention to a person's weight. I can see where the conclusion can be drawn that it sends the wrong message about body image, especially for girls. What kind of affect does it have on girls that are already self-conscious about their bodies? Now there is another number besides weight that they must live up to. I think in cases where kids are overweight, the parents already know, or should know -- is getting a letter from the school saying so going to make a difference?

However, Jeanne, I do see where you are coming from... Hearing and vision tests are done at school as they directly affect learning. On the same level, being overweight can also affect one's performance in school as well... which brings me back to my original question as to what they intend to do with the information. I'll have to read up on the bill so I am better informed before weighing in any further (pun not intentional).

youngmomofone replied: As long as they dont send child protective services to the homes of kids who are obese or underweight then I dont have a problem. Taking it to that extreme then yes I wouldn't do it.

Boo&BugsMom replied:
Finally, Wisconsin is ahead of the times on something!

Our schools have been doing this for ages. I remember it when I was in grade school. Honestly, I don't even recall knowing what the numbers meant so I didn't care. I do not recall though, the information being shared between students or with the state.

moped replied:
Jacks school still has chocolate milk!

I am going to hold off on commenting for a bit!

Boo&BugsMom replied:
Ours does too!

Although, I don't allow Tanner to get it every day, he gets it once a week...unless he's not listening to me behind my back which very well could be a possibility.

my2monkeyboys replied:
That is exactly where I could see this going... for the sake of the child, of course.
For those who are under-privileged, they have medicaid available to them, so they should be going to the dr. for regular visits anyway. For those who have the money to pay for their own dr. visits or insurance, they should also be going. So what are they going to do with the results?? Sending letters home would not change anything, I am sure, so what would the next step be???
My concern with this is that there is already WAY too much "nanny state" mentality going on in the country as it is, and each inch we give just makes things worse.

My3LilMonkeys replied: Our school does this and sends the results to the parents via mail - they are not shared with the kids at all, so that eliminates the comparison of numbers.

Personally, I don't mind it. Will I change my child's lifestyle based on what the school tells me? No. But I have no issue with them conducting the test as long as that's all they are doing.

Mommy2Isabella replied: I totally had that done in high school. In our P.E. class!

The numbers were said aloud because we took them for each other and another student wrote them down. I didn't care. Though, I have always been thin, so I am not sure how it would effect children who had a high BMI, or how any of that would work.

They took ours for the presidential physical fitness test that we had to do, Like how far you can reach to your toes, your bmi, how many sit ups in a minute, how many pull ups in a minute, all kinds of stuff. Kids that did well got a fun certificate.

mom21kid2dogs replied:
ITA. Seriously, what could this possibly do with learning?

cameragirl21 replied: Idk, I should probably stay out of this but the way I see it, obesity is becoming a huge epidemic and statistically, this generation is expected to be the first one to die before their parents do, all because of obesity.
I won't even go into the details of the all morbidly obese children I see out and about, clearly at an age that has yet to reach double digits and appearing to easily outweigh me. I've seen 5-6 year old girls walking around the beach in ruffly bikinis and big bellies that appear to be in their 9th month, walking around with an enormous bag of doritos...I've seen obese children in the checkout line at the grocery store or Target being handed a snickers bar by their parents.
Obesity is a tremendous problem among children and it appears that the parents aren't doing enough about it so someone has to. While I agree it's not the school's place, bottom line, someone has to do it.
I'd have no problem with this whatsoever, in fact, I think it's long overdue, just hope some good comes of it.

Calimama replied:
Yep. Ditto.

mom21kid2dogs replied:
I suppose that could be a possible point IF the school was actually charged with "doing" something but they are not. The are collecting and reporting data to someone somewhere. They aren't charged with altering lunch choices, increasing physical activity, etc. In fact, a number of schools are cutting physical education and recess in favor of more in class time to enhance test scores. They are schools. It would be great if they backed parents efforts to lead a healthier lifestyle but their job is to educate my child, period.

Honestly, I found your comments about overweight children to be derogatory and stereotypical. As the parent of an overweight child, I can tell you it's not doritos and snickers for her. There are many causes to obesity in humans not the least of which is genetic. She walks a 70 paper route up hills that would make a marathon runner cry for an hour every day but Sunday. We don't keep crap food in our home. For her it's the unlucky combination of body structure, lack of metabolism and an enormous appetite. She's not petite, she never was petite and she's never going to be petite. In fact, it's unlikely she'll ever be even "normally weighted". What she is is a beautiful, incredibly happy, smart, popular, a good hearted, funny, level headed, Godly and extremely confident (by virtue of every parent/teacher conference I've attended so far) ten year old. She has missed exactly 2 days of school in 5 years to show for all her obesity related problems. Her size is as much a part of her as her beautiful curly hair and blue eyes.

my2monkeyboys replied: Cheryl!

And, again, JMO, by why is it anyone's business other than the parents' how big their child is??? Again, NANNY state mentality that says that if it isn't how 'we' think it should be, then 'we' must do something about it!

coasterqueen replied:
I agree with both of you.

coasterqueen replied:
Next the government will force the schools to tell us what tv shows are kids are supposed to watch or not. Maybe we should just have government guards/police at each home telling people what they should do, wear, buy, eat, etc.

cameragirl21 replied: Cheryl, I just want to apologize to you if anything I said offended you, I don't know your daughter and can't comment on her, nor is it my business to do so.
I'm merely relaying what I've seen and the statistics aren't good--obesity in children rarely leads to normal sized (and emotional issue free) adults and the way I see it, the problem is getting out of control and someone needs to do something.
I think the schools should increase phys ed, take the unhealthy crap out of lunches and teach healthy eating as part of the curriculum starting from 1st grade because this generation is in trouble healthwise and this is NOT just my opinion, it's an issue that is alarming and needs to be confronted.
As for why it's anyone's business if someone's child is "big" it IS because in most cases, at least the cases I've seen, where parents are feeding kids candy and doritos, they are ruining their kids' health and that WILL lead to problems later in life or in many cases, right in childhood. Kids have to depend on adults for everything, they don't and can't control their own destiny in childhood and if the adults in charge are making them unhealthy then who's going to advocate for them?
Being obese is not an issue of aesthetics, it's a health problem...allowing a child to be morbidly obese is just as dangerous as refusing to treat a health problem because that is what it is--a health problem.
Would you expect the school or someone to get involved if a child were diabetic or asthmatic and the parents refused to treat the problem? Morbid obesity is every bit as dangerous and needs to be treated.
I went to school with a girl who was more than 100 lbs overweight and suffice it to say that the other kids weren't kind to her, neither were the teachers. She absolutely did not deserve to be picked on but when she grew up, she tipped the scale at close to 600 pounds before getting gastric bypass and she's still more than 100 lbs overweight, years after GB...my point--if you don't solve it in childhood, it doesn't get any easer or better from there.

my2monkeyboys replied: I have no issue with the increase in phys ed, only healthy food, and health ed being mandatory in schools. My fear is the snowball effect that comes from things such as this. Where do you draw the line???

Boo&BugsMom replied:
I can totally see it from this side. Back when I was in school and we did the BMI there wasn't a bunch of crazy people standing by to pick out students to take to CPS. We live in a much different world today, and people often let 'policies and procedures' take over their common sense.

I do think our world has a huge obesity issue (not just in children) but I also think there is a huge difference between a naturally larger child, verses an unhealthy obese child. Usually you can tell just by observing the child as well, which 'side' the child stands on. My brother was always larger, but he was physically fit. You could tell just by observing him play baseball, compete in wrestling competitions, and play other sports while growing up. Some kids are just bigger...and unfortunately, our family comes from 'large' genes. How I became the smallest one in my family, I don't know....but I guess I wont complain.

Unfortunately, if there are more 'cooks in the kitchen'...I foresee many HEALTHY children being targeted that shouldn't be.

cameragirl21 replied: Steph, I hear you, I really do, and Idk where you draw the line but here's the thing--speaking of that little girl at the beach with the doritos--she couldn't have been more than 6 years old, probably younger and while the other children were running around, playing on the sand, splashing in the water, etc, this little girl was standing on the shore staring at the ocean. Alone. With a belly that resembled a pregnancy in its 9th month and a couple of chins, standing there staring at other kids playing and reaching into a bag of doritos eating. And I noticed that she was reaching pretty deep into the bag to get each dorito so I presumed the bag to be nearly empty...who do you suppose ate all those doritos?
And while I would NEVER actually do this, some part of me wanted to come up to her and say, "where is your mother and how in the bleeding hell is she letting you walk around like this???"
This little girl was already missing out on childhood while the other kids were playing and she was self soothing with an enormous bag of doritos--the family size bag, NOT the little snack sized one. Do you suppose it will get any better for her when she's a teen or a college kid or a grownup? I'm willing to bet not.
So the way I see it, if the school checks her BMI and sends it home to her parents and that has even a 1% chance of embarrassing them into action, then I say bring it on. It may be the only chance this little girl has.
And I get that some people are large boned, etc and that makes them more inclined toward being larger, having a bigger BMI, etc BUT having a large structure is one thing, having multiple chins and a Buddha belly in kindergarten or even junior high/high school is another thing entirely.
Who is going to save these children from isolation and missing out on meaningful aspects of their childhood? I don't see it getting any better into adulthood if they don't learn better habits and other emotional outlets now.

coasterqueen replied:
Cheryl,

and what saddens me more is with the new health care laws companies (like my husband's) are now making people take online courses for health and you have to pass these health tests and BMI tests, etc and all these factors. If you don't pass, you don't get a decrease in insurance. If you pass, you get a "discount". And all these tests don't factor in genetics because they say genetics doesn't play a part in this stuff. It's OBSURD!!!! I'd go into more detail about it, but it makes me livid.

cameragirl21 replied:
Idk, Karen, I think this is reasonable because statistically speaking, having a higher BMI makes one more prone to health problems so if your BMI is normal, don't you deserve a discount?? In most cases, BMI is entirely within our control.
And btw, you're speaking to someone who is trying to lose 20 lbs, I'm not a skinny minnie naturally by any means. Being at a normal weight takes work on my part but having an extra 20 lbs is entirely MY doing. I'd like to say it's because I have a sluggish thryroid but that is complete crap because a sluggish thyroid may make you gain 5 lbs or so. These extra 20 are from choosing pizza over salad, plain and simple. No one's fault but my own so if I wanted the discount, better change my diet and hit the gym, which is precisely what I'm now doing.
Now when I was a little kid, playing outside all the time, climbing trees, hiking through the woods, etc, with my mom cooking healthy food every day, it was a heck of a lot easier than it is today.
Same goes for kids in school imo.

MommyToAshley replied:
I agree with everything

There is a problem with obesity, more and more kids have diabetes now than ever before. But, you are also right, there is a difference between being obese and just being a larger child. I know some larger children and adults that could run circles around me. I just don't understand how measuring BMI is going to help? If the schools are concerned about obesity, why not focus on educating both kids and parents on healthy eating, make sure school lunches are healthy, and allow for more physical activity. Last year, Ashley had gym three times a week, this year she only has it one time a week and has one short recess a day. Luckily she's involved in other sports and activities that keep her on the move.