New York schools will monitor students' weight

As a middle school teacher, I can't begin to tell you just how cruel children can be to each other. This is going to turn into something that will scar some children for life. There is no "gentle" way to tell a kid that he is overweight. Believe me, they know it. Kids don't have a choice in the meals that they get at home, particularly in impoverished areas. They eat what's available.

What's next? Do they plan to limit the amount of food that they give to the "fat kid"?

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i think child obesity is a major problem, and they should weigh kids in school, but if ur a gym teacher or something weighing a kid u can tell if hes fat or muscular and put that down on the paper. i think its a good idea so people shud suck it up and do it. it might embaress the kids but this is school were talking about; embaressment is nothing new. i would know im in highschool. and it is designed to help reduced obesity so its for urown good.

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I can't believe the schools or government feel they can regulate a child's weight!! I have six children and they are all extremely active. They play five or six sports each every year. There is not a one of them that fit in to a perfect BMI. My oldest son, has been off the charts for both height and weight since he was born. Does his school know this? NO and they shouldn't. My daughter just started this year to get a little bit of a pouch belly and people have already started saying something about it at cheerleading. She feels horrible! It is ridiculous to think children can grow up in society and have a "fat" brand associated to them. Does anyone remember all the "pressure" you were under already at school to fit in and be accepted. I think people grow up and forget what it is like to be a child!!

I was extremely athletic as a child and always have been even as an adult. I have six kids in six year eight months and still have not been able to loose the weight. I can see how people look at me and they don't even realize I still play sports and am very active, I just don't have the time anymore to be a "perfect" size and I don't want my kids being looked at like I am now before they even have a chance to live life!

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Tweenagers typically pack on some pounds while hormones invade their bodies for HEALTHY growth and development.

Depending on genetics, the young person's body will respond according to that inherited GENETIC code as well as what the child/person eats.

There is limited data on a) what degree can we document GENETICS vs. b) fat growth contributing to obesity c) in Tweenagers.

Questions:
1. If a student comes in with perfect weight, do we question their food intake? They could be living on candy bars and soda, but if their weight is ok, then they are ok? WRONG!

2. Students/Tweenagers cannot acquire food every 2 hours for healthy growth and development, that does not mean a meal (everytime), it just means apple and cheese, nuts and raisins, etc. So they eat a breakfast bar running out the door at 7:30, snack of cheetos at 9:30, lunch of chicken nuggets at 11:30, then nothing until after school...by then they are ready to eat the car or school bus.

And WE want to put them on the scale and chastise them about their weight when they have little to do w. the time frequency they are allowed to eat, food shopping and meal planning? WRONG!

3. Hydration: WATER! They have little time to hydrate, much less complete hydration for healthy growth and development. If one does not hydrate they feel hunger and they eat.

4. PLAY time vs. exercise: We give this age group 5 minutes between classes, 20 minute lunches and play time, detention if they get out of their chairs between the hours of 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. (meaning little activity time or they get ADHD meds).

Then we make fun of them when the Tween gets the "tummy roll" indicating some fat has been put on...WRONG!

SOLUTION:
If the adult world wants to fix the obesity epidemic let it begin with mandatory classes for themselves.

Model it first for the kids...besides, we tell the kids it is up to them to go out and save the world beginning with the trees, and now we want to dump on them that they obese and they have to fix themselves too???!!!

Ah yes, who else said Childhood is soooooo very very short?

So let's just take it all away and curse the darkness when the kids don't step up to save the adults.

Shameful!

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Political correctness. Now the government wants us all to look alike. Shameful, provide recess in elementary school and encourage outside walks during study halls for higher grades.

New York is one of the highest taxed state for schools and wants to weigh students instead of teaching math and science.

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This is nothing new. When I was in high school back in the early '60's, we all got weighed by the school nurse on a yearly basis. I don't remember it being a big deal. My girlfriend and I thought it was neat that we both weighed exactly the same.

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When I was younger there were some that would comment on my weight. I settled that by beating them up. I started varsity football playing on the line and they seemed okay then that I was a big and strong guy. I have always had extra layers but I can bench press 500 lbs, squat 700 lbs, and deadlift 500 lbs. But I know that not all kids are overwieght due to muscles. The BMI is not the best indicator, body fat percentage is. The Govenator, Arnold never met those BMI things yet he had about 15% body fat.

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The BMI is a crock. There are other methods that are better like a true body fat percentage. Many athletes would not meet the BMI standard due to muscluar development. The Govenator Mr, Arnold, never could meet that he was considered obese using the BMI standard. I was a big kid and now a big adult, yet I can bench press 500 lbs, squat 700 lbs, and dead lift 500lbs. I lettered in varsity football begining my sophmore year. When someone tried to tease me about my weight they got their face rearranged. That ended the teaseing. While it is true that there are kids that have a problem and making a public weigh in is not the answer. Just reinstate PE classes and the teaching of healthy eating and proper exercise.

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My family's school system is affected by the BMI requirement this year. While my kids are too young to attend, one of my younger sisters will have her weigh information reported. I support it, and hope it will not be input wasted or misused.

I hope this information is used to allow NY schools to offer classes on how to help students learn how to live a healthy, active lifestyle, as the obesity epidemic proves is not taught in the majority of American homes. However, I do believe ridicule will likely increase, as will anorexia, bulemia, and (I believe) teen suicide rates if the info is misused. I also personally doubt there will be as much concern for the underweight as the overweight.

American adults (according to an article made available through AOL about 'what your husband isn't telling you') idolize the size 0. Maybe BMIs being required in schools will help raise a generation with a healthier body image (perhaps two generations from now Americans will love a size 10?)

In regards to the comment about the rich being fat in history- 'Fat' used to equate to rich. In today's society which is cheaper: an orange or a pack of ramen noodles? Which meal is cheaper to prepare: grilled skinless chicken breast with steamed broccoli, cauliflour, and carrots; or spaghetti with jarred sauce? It is expensive to eat healthy in this country unless you are rich, resulting in a fat lower class with an upperclass who can afford health food, weightloss programs, and gym memberships.

I really, really hope this requirement benefits the kids it's studying.

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I think it would embarrass the child with a weight problem and it is not the childs fault so I say no this is not a good idea.

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If the measurement was privately and accurately taken (haha) by a certified physician (haha), and the government is going to pay the bill for the solution the school recommends (ROFL), then let the schools take care of it. If not, it's none of their business.

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I don't think it's a bad idea, but it's kind of unfair. If the information is private, however, I don't think that would be a problem at all. Families need help with this matter because obviously they are doing nothing about their obese children. For those who think that this information should be left for the family to deal with, that is completely absurd. If your child or your sibling is overweight or obese, then there is a problem in the household. However, I do believe that by submitting the children's BMI to the school officials, it's going to worry that kid and they might go to drastic measures to be "normal". It's kind of like giving a kid an eating disorder.

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How much does a pound of feathers weigh? How much does a pound of rocks weigh? NO muscle does not weigh more then fat!
This is so misleading. Yes a pound of muscle takes up less room then a pound of fat. Just as a pound of feathers takes up less room then a pound of rocks!
Kat

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As a child, I was overweight, and I dreaded being weighed in school. When children are fat, they know it. I didn't know how to count calories. I only felt that people would like me better if I were thinner. I think that a child's weight should be between the child, his parents, and the child's doctor. There is no reason to humiliate a child in school by weighing him/her, then have the other kids ask, "How much do you weigh?"

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this is appauling.
all i can say is that if i was weighed in school, i would have developed anorexia and bulimia a lot earlier than i did!
and i did develop it because kids put me down time and time again, and finally, one straw just broke the camels back, and i stopped eating.
no kid should have to go through this. a doctor has the right to discuss with a parent about eating healthier and getting more physical activity. the school has no right to put down a child. they don't know what an eating disorder is like, and honestly, they could put some kids over the edge.
this is just wrong.

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This is just what we all need, another way for the government to intrude into our lives. I think we need less government for the people and more for the corporations. You know. . .those organizations that make a killing until they fall apart and then get a tax-payer bail-out.

There was one high school student, or so it was claimed, who wrote in. Does this student know that the correct contraction for "he is", in that case is "he's" not "hes" or that ur is a short hand for "your" and "you're" and what the difference between those terms is?

If our schools aren't teaching language well enough, why should they be trusted to handle weight and health issues correctly?

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It is good that they monitor the kids, but they need to not just watch the weight. My oldest daughter has been monitored basically since she was born, on WIC. The goverment systems only look at the age and weight not her size. She is now 5' 5" 115Lbs. The gov says she is over weight for her age. They need to look at her height also to figure her body fat. When we were on WIC She was in 95% for size and 75% for weight but they still told us she was over weight. They need to have their program reviewed before putting in place.

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Oh my gosh...this article reminds me of my first year at a new school. It was the fifth grade and the health teacher weighed us in front of the entire class. She even called out our weight for everyone to hear! My weight was 115 pounds, and I was mortified. The kids made fun of me the entire year.

Neadless to say, I went on to have weight "issues" my whole life. I am in my 40's and still weigh 115, but that memory will scar me forever!!

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