Weight Report Cards

Schools in Massachusetts have adapted policies to report on students' BMI numbers in grades 1, 4, 7, and 10. The main goal of this policy is to alert parents when their child is overweight or obese so that parents may take action and correct the situation.

In a nation where childhood obeseity rates are climbing and Type 2 Diabetes is being diagnosed at younger and younger ages, perhaps this policy is a good way to combat unhealthy trends we're seeing in children. It's bringing awareness and forcing parents to deal with poor nutrition choices.

But are parents really unaware that their children are overweight or are unaware of the dangers of a poor non nutritious diet with lack of exercise? Is it necessary for schools to report on this? It's certainly a debate that can be had of government intervention & Nanny State, but overall, is it really providing feedback that parents aren't already aware of?

Can this be successful and what are the dangers of "weight report cards"?

It seems like these BMI reports are opening flood gates. More than likely parents can tell if their children are obese, and the only thing that these reports are going to do is damage a child's relationship with food when he or she receives an "F" on their weight. Think of how a 7th grade girl is going to accept a poor grade on her body. If you're a thirteen year old girl, and you're told by your school nurse that you're overweight, how well can you process that? Even a woman at 30 will have problems with a doctor telling her she is overweight.

These BMI reports are nothing more than stating the obvious about children's weight. Telling a kid he or she is fat, is not going to change anything. If schools in Massachusetts want children to be healthier they need to change what food is being offered in the schools and increase the physical activity the children have. Labeling and sending home report cards on a child's weight will only insult a parent and cause insecurity in the students.

Anyone who watches the news or picks up a paper knows that children are at greater risk for obesity and Type 2 Diabetes now a days. Pointing fingers at those who are at risk is not going to solve anything, all it will do is make a child feel bad about his or her weight and body image. The best thing the schools can do is find a way to increase activity on daily basis for students and take away foods like chicken patties, french fries, and candy.

This is a poor stab to improving the welfare of these students. If the schools really cared, they'd remove the vending machines & soda from their schools. But since companies like Coca Cola and Pepsi pay schools to host their products, the schools will continue to serve things like Doritos and Reese's Cups. Hopefully I'm proven wrong and there is no damage but only positive outcome from these BMI reports. We shall see.