Schools also test for hearing loss and eyesight issues, should that be a problem too? Sigh.

Reply

Maybe they became obese because they didn't have enough opportunities to discover a healthier lifestyle that includes exercise and activity. A lot of parents don't seem to find the time to engage their children in extra programs and activities that might help them. The schools are just trying to fill a gap that obviously exists. Of course parents and pediatricians should be the frontline for dealing with weight issues... but when those interventions don't do the trick, SOMETHING else has to happen.

Reply

Ethel, hearing and vision problems are not usually apparent. Obesity and overweight is VERY apparent, so there's no need to 'test' it.

Reply

I am glad that someone (anyone) is starting to realize the obesity problem in our kids today. The parents should be 100% responsible for it, but if they won't take action then I am glad someone is. I coach kid soccer and you wouldn't believe how many kids can't even run the distance of the field even once! SAD! Childhood obesity is a huge problem in America. Think it doesn't affect you? Wait until your insurance premiums go through the roof because these obese kids and the future medical issues they will have. Take the Big-Mac out of their hands, take the Xbox controller out of their hands, make them a healthy dinner and then walk or play outside with them. Please.

Reply

Miss, you are not entirely correct (but what else is new). A person with a seemingly "fit" body may in fact have a very high body mass index, which would mean that they need to shed fat and gain muscle to lower blood pressure, lower cholesterol, have a healtheir heart, etc. Therefore everyone being "tested" for BMI is an accurate way to gauge the activity level/general health of children.

Reply

In general, it is interesting that it is ok for schools/society/families/friends to be concerned about learn disabilities and countless other health issues yet it is not politically correct to call attention to an entirely preventable health condition such such as obsetity that will have live-long negative impacts.

While the approach could be improved, the school really isn't doing anything different in this case than when they bring other negative health or developmental factors to parents' attention.

The majority of the parents who are offended are likely defensive because they know they are to blame.

That being said, I would hope this school is serving the healthiest lunches possible to the students. Otherwise, they are part of the problem.

Reply

Not that some parents shouldn't make more of an effort to keep their kids active but for a school to put such an focus on weight and single the kids out,endangers their self esteem. I remember one women who kept commenting about her granddaughter's weight and that she was worried that men would treat her badly as she got older. My response to her was "you mean men treated you badly because of your weight (and the real answer was no, she picked men that treated her badly because of her self esteem)"? I do not have weight problems with my son because he is a bundle of energy so I am happy and lucky about that. But I have been around many adults who have all kinds of crazy weight based self esteem issues. And be realistic, as adults do any of use lose weight or quit smoking when those around us harass us about it? Usually it has the opposite effect and just makes us more self conscious. A child who is already overweight and teased by his peers is certainly more likely to withdraw inside to play games than participate in competitive sports only to be teased by other parents, teachers and students. I saw one extremely overweight father and with his young and also overweight daughter at a park and then noticed one lady staring at them with a disgusted look on her face. So here is a father trying to get his daughter active and this lady is looking at them like they are mutants! I think we should all work on ourselves and our own fears, weaknesses and prejudices and learn to be more tolerant of others and that is the best way of making this world a better place in the long run. If you are lucky enough not to have overweight kids, be thankful but try not to rush to judgement to those who do unless you have walked in their shoes and be encouraging not discouraging.

Reply

This would only make sense if ANY public interventions in obesity whatsoever had been shown to be effective on altering body weights of children. However, they are universally INeffective.

Reply

And what of the students that are under-exceeding the proper BMI? Do those parents get sent letters regarding their child weight? The "scale" moves both ways right? Isn't anorexia/bulimia just as serious a problem these days as obesity?
Also, what steps is the school taking to help these children? I wonder how many soda/snack machines this county's school has in it? What are the "healthy choice" options available in the lunch room? Is this school like so many others in that it has eliminated it's PE/gym or other type sports classes?
We, as parents, do expect our schools to have our best kids’ interests in mind. So to become upset by this schools’ actions is silly. But if you are upset because you are offended, then you should take a better look at your child and see if the school isn't right.

Reply

I think we should all work on ourselves and our own fears, weaknesses and prejudices and learn to be more tolerant of others and that is the best way of making this world a better place in the long run."

Learn to be more tolerant of unhealthy behaviours? Learn to be more tolerant of what may quite plausibly be considered child abuse?

This world will be a better place when parents start looking after the health of their children and this includes obesity; and this also includes the ceasing of appeasement through food, cease using food as a reward and cease using food as a bribe.

I have actually had people tell me my twins were "skinny". "My, your twins are skinny" with a tone as though I were starving them. They eat fruits, veggies, healthy meats and have cookies as treats only. They are each in the 80% for both height and weight, they are growing perfectly balanced. And yes, compared to 75% of the kids in their kindergarten class, they look like famine victims.

Obesity in children is very dangerous to the health of the child - ask the Mom of the 158 pound 4 yr old who has sleep apena and who stops breathing because her poor body can't make the effort. Now watch the Mom give that same child 4 cookies because the poor child is whining about something. Shame on all parents who try to excuse the obesity of their children and who feign indignation when such letters are sent. Childhood Obesity should be deemed a crime under child abuse laws!

Reply

I don't think that anorexia is nearly the problem that obesity is. It's very serious for those who have it, of course, but it's just much rarer.

My son's school is having the kids fill out an exercise log this month -- they are trying to get them to get 30 minutes of exercise daily for a whole month. He brought home a big sheet of possible ways to be physically active (which also included things like "play in the yard," "do chores," and other stuff that doesn't involve buying him expensive gear and driving him somewhere) and a letter asking us as the parents to do help him reach the goal of 30 minutes daily physical activity.

I liked that approach because it doesn't single anyone out, and the fact of the matter is that every child should be physically active anyway. I have no idea whether they will try to work more with families where it quickly becomes obvious that the kids aren't getting any exercise, but if they want to they'll have a good sense of who to target.

Reply

I think that the childhood obesity rate in this nation has forced concerned organizations to pick up the slack where parents are obviously failing. Whether you call it child abuse or whether you are offended by the whole issue is not important. What is important is that the health of our children is in serious trouble.

Schools have stepped in where parents have been unable or unwilling to take control.

AB, I think your child's school has taken a fantastic approach as a way to get the kids active without damaging their self esteem.

Reply

We had a friend who's four year old son weighed over twice what our 7-year old wieghed. Once while telling us how her son had several health conditions, that the doctor had called her son "obese". She was so mad at the doctor and kept going off on how rude he was. My wife tired explaining that obesity is a medical condition. What word did she want the doctor to use . . . fat? I have a hard time understanding her attitude. It didn't help her son at all.

Reply

Doesn't the story say that the school offers a free "get fit" type of program for these kids? Report cards are private so they aren't making a spectacle of the kids. And it appears they are offering a place for the overweight children to exercise together - away from the skinny and probably more athletic kids. Sounds great to me!

Reply

i am truly empathetic to the plight of obesity, whether genetically or situationally induced. i am also inclined to think we can find a suitable and more compassionate way in which we handle this problem, both in the names we apply to it and the programs designed to reduce its devastating effects.

i do think, however, if we continue to be offended by the seemingly acts of good intention that schools (or anybody else with suggestions) are proposing so as to bring more attention to this epidemic, we will become angered, defensive and finally apathetic to the point of taking no action to help the ones afflicted by it.

remember, peoples lives are at stake here, not political correctness.

i hope we find a loving and disciplined way to address the issue.

Reply

I think it really depends on how the school is handling it. Report cards are a more private way to point out a weight issue than sending a notice home with the kids. And so long as the fitness program is voluntary, it may well primarily attract the ones who are interested in doing something about their weight.

Of course, a fitness program only addresses a part of the problem. What about what the parents are feeding the kids? How much are they just letting them sit around? I know fitness activities at school are the only things the school has control over.

It's tough though. I mean, which is really the better option for encouraging overweight children to get fit? A separate class they could be teased about being in or a class everyone can participate in, so the overweight kids get teased about not being as fit? Is there a better option?

Reply

I think this should be treated like any other health screening. Putting it on a report card says the kid has screwed up. But the kids don't choose their diets or set their schedules.

Parents really have no business being miffed. It's their responsibility to maintain their young kids' health. If they were doing their jobs, in most cases the kids wouldn't have weight issues when they got to school.

On the other hand, I don't think BMI is a fool-proof measure. Recently I heard that the majority of star athletes had high BMIs. Muscle is heavier than fat, so if you look like the Incredible Hulk, you will have a high BMI, even though you may be the healthiest person in the room. A high BMI should be treated as a flag to take a closer look at the child's development, rather than a certain indicator of a problem.

And I agree that before a school starts evaluating kids on their fitness achievements, they need to stop feeding them crap and making them sit around all day.

Reply