Should schools do BMI screenings?

[pstokely]

I don't oppose it as long the screening info is sent directly to the parents (where other students would not get the info) and the screenings are done in private. My PE teacher would always shout out the weight when we got weighed in elementary school (that's stuff that needs to be keep private). Wouldn't this detect eating disorders instead of triggering them?

[The Straight Story]

1. I can see that in some ways

The problem though is if parents let things get bad in the first place will such an assessment wake them up at all?

And then too - should we really be forcing our view on how people should live on them?

In a world where we favor assisted suicide, freedom to smoke, freedom to suck in car fumes all day (see my thread on that....), and so on - should we be telling people that their choices are bad because they are not the ones we see as best?

So many questions, so few beers.

[pstokely]

4. Don't we already force views onto people by requiring vaccines to enter school?

At least that's what the pro-HPV fundies think by adding Gardasil to that list. Schools also already do hearing, vision, and scoliosis (at least my school did through 5-8 grades) screenings.

[Kiouni]

8. Those people are just freaking morans

I call a lot of people stupid but there is a stupid scale/hierarchy and these guys rank up there with the katrina happened because of homosexuals dumb-asses.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

2. depends on the cause of the problem--emotional, hormonal, what?

[Kiouni]

3. I tested low in "reading" in elementary school

which entitled me to a 30 minute class after school every day for a school year working on my reading skills. I soon excelled and now I read 3 or 4 books a week. Isn't this the same as testing for obesity? It's a lifestyle choice. Most people can read the just choose not too. Most people can run they just choose not too. Why not approach this problem with the same proven methods from other developmental problems and make these kids spend 30 minutes a day doing exercises?

[The Straight Story]

6. I can see why you tested low

you are not reading enough of my threads ;)

[MonkeyFunk]

5. It's nice if schools offer it

for those who want it, but it shouldn't be mandatory.

[pstokely]

7. They already do hearing and vision screenings, why not BMI screenings?

The nurse should do the BMI screenings, not some Ex-Jock PE teacher?

[MonkeyFunk]

10. Because a student

with hearing or vision loss will have problems learning. Fat kids can learn just fine.

[Hekate]

9. JFK had all us kids tested and rated for physical fitness...

...and our required physical education classes reflected that concern as well.

Schools have been asked to screen for all kinds of things over the years, depending on whatever the latest concern about kids K-12 is. I have no objection to screening for BMI -- IF this goes along with concrete programs to create health in our children, and the money to implement them.

Concrete programs would include:
• physical fitness classes for all the kids, not just sports teams;
• rehiring school nutritionists and cooks to make cheap healthy meals on site (whatever happened to Government Surplus food?);
• removing every damned soda machine from every school and just giving the schools the money they make from them (soda machines are there because the schools are short of money, and for no other reason);
• and a required one-year health/nutrition/cooking class for both boys and girls (it used to be called Home Economics and was for girls only when I was in school, like Shop was for boys only).

Simply lining up all the kids and weighing them isn't going to do much to help most of those who need it because schools have been stripped of so much of the support structure due to lost funding. How are kids going to know what a healthy diet looks like unless they actually experience one?

Hekate

[China_cat]

11. That was a VOLUNTARY program, not mandatory.

No child HAD to take part. But there was a reward if you could pass the 'tests'...a little badge and a certificate ('signed' by the president) which, at that time were enough to prod kids into being part of it.

[Hekate]

18. Ha--it wasn't voluntary in my school and I don't recall any certificates of completion

I was not a good athlete, between uneven knee ligaments and severe myopia. But we all had to do it, and I think if I had tried to sit it out my class grade would have suffered even more than usual.

Nonetheless, kids need to move their bodies and they need to be taught what healthy eating looks and tastes like. They need to be taught.

Hekate

[China_cat]

21. That was your school's failing, then.

The test was fairly simple even then...something like 3 pullups, 10 situps and a couple other things...and kids were failing it even then. But the schools were never mandated by the government to require it.

[Hekate]

26. We also did long jumps and timed runs. I thought it was all due to JFK.

There were a whole category of activities that seemed to involve forms and clipboards. It just seemed to be all about the same time as the activities the president wanted us tested on, and I could be wrong.

Strangely enough, I was quite fit in my youth. I walked everywhere, lifted my younger sibs in the air (well-toned arms!), climbed trees and hiked with my boyfriend.

But I detested PE with its emphasis on competition and team sports. I didn't get contact lenses until college and my thick glasses provided plenty of distortion at the edges, not to mention the idiot PE teacher who wanted me to leave them in the locker lest they get busted by a ball. I couldn't see balls coming at me anyway. No one wanted me on their team, and who could blame them.

But as you can tell I really believe kids need to move their bodies. They just need more variety, more activities geared toward invidual capacities.

Hekate

[China_cat]

27. I agree with you on that. If it ain't fun, kids just aren't going to

do anything more than resent being pushed into it...and quit just as soon as they can.

[Rosemary2205]

12. Give me a break

no physical fitness, no recess, junk food vending machines, garbage served for lunch and no microwaves or fridges so kids can bring something healthy from home. Cupcakes and cookies every time someone in class has a birthday or any other 'holiday'.

The schools are half the problem.

[Clark2008]

16. My school system has implemented an approved list of

"treats" parents can send with kids for parties.

No cupcakes or cookies or sweets of any kind. The sweetest treat they can bring is Teddy Grahams. Most of the list is low-fat snack foods like pretzels or healthy snacks like peanuts (provided no one in class has an allergy) and cheese sticks and stuff.

Some schools are trying to change that.

[Dinger]

17. Whenever There Is An Occasion For "Treats" In My Class,

I send home a note for parents, with a list of suggested healthy treats. I also give an explanation why, and include the fact that our school has a wellness policy. Still, the kids bringsnacks that are not all that healthy, but they are getting better.

[HoneyBee]

13. Maybe, but they should focus more on not feeding kids processed crap.

:shrug:

[Devlzown]

14. I think schools should focus on academics.

Athletics should be voluntary. Schools should provide nutritional meals for students and take out snack machines, but I don't think they should be concerned about whether or not a student is at his/her optimum weight.

[Tesha]

15. Yes. (NT)

[Scout]

19. NO! BMI as a measurement of overall health is total bullshit!!!

according to my BMI, I'm morbidly obese, yet NO ONE thinks I look nearly that overweight. My blood pressure is good, my triglycerides and blood sugar are excellent. My bone density is high, and I'm strong.

There is no way I am morbidly obese.

[kiahzero]

20. Simple BMI fails on people with lots of muscle mass.

Simply comparing height and weight is insufficient to determine whether one is "overweight."

[Frank Cannon]

28. Studies, I believe, are starting to show this

I don't have the time or energy to cite them, but you're right.

I, too, was in the morbidly obese category. I was a bodybuilder and a martial artist and in the best shape of my life.

[nam78_two]

22. Yes.nt

[ContraBass Black]

23. BMI does not account for body composition.

[Oldtimeralso]

24. That is very true

I have the Amos Alonzo Stagg Award from the President's Council on Physical Fitness, but if you index my weight vs height you would say I was obese. In my younger days I played on a practice squad for a pro sports team.

[SoCalDem]

25. In gym or health class, I can see a use for it, but

like someone else already said, it should be sent to the parent, along with an explanation and a list of information for them to look into. If it's done as yet another way to make the overweight kids feel like shit, it should NOT be done at all..

Wouldn;t it be nice if every school had "health week" , when doctors, dentists, optometrists showed up and gave health screenings for all who wanted one?

I know there are many kids who can't see well, or who have health issues that get ignored because they are not poor enough to get medicaid, and not wealthy enough to have decent family insurance.

[Vinca]

29. No, schools should focus on academics.

Kids should be encouraged to eat well so it wouldn't be a bad thing to chuck the junk food machines on campus and serve fresh, healthy foods at lunch instead of fried mystery meat. Phys. ed. should be included in the schedule for exercise. Testing for BMI bothers me because it would stigmatize the chubby kids even more than they already are. Look at the kid - if he's got a pot belly at 12 you know what his BMI is. Encourage positive behavior without damaging self esteem.