An "important" letter from school today

[luvmy3]

I think schools and doctors are just frantically trying to find ways to stop this fat epidemic, which we do have. I also think that we should be able to see our kids' ribs, and we are so used to seeing overweight people (like myself - I really need to lose 20+ pounds, if not more), that we don't even realize how heavy our friends and family are. My "skinny" kids (75th % in height, 45th% in weight) are probably the norm decades ago, and yet people comment on how skinny they are. My chubby ds (90th % in height and weight) was told by the pediatrician that he's fine, although his BMI is "at risk" - he can pinch an inch, and does have belly fat. He is not big-boned, just looks like he is.

I find so many parents who label their children "solid," when in fact, they are fat. However, if the whole family is "solid," they just don't see it. Several years ago, there was a tragic tourist boating accident, because although the boat didn't go over the occupancy limit, it was an old boat, and the occupants were hundreds of pounds over what the expectancy was decades ago. Scary.

Are you talking about Lake George? If so it was found that they did have too many passengers, 3 times more than it should have. The capacity rating was wrong due to things that had been added, but it was never tested again so at one point ot could safely hold all those passengers, but at the time of the accident it wasn't capable. So, it did have to do with the weight of the passengers, but because there were too many, not because they were overweight or "solid".

 

[jrmasm]

I think schools and doctors are just frantically trying to find ways to stop this fat epidemic, which we do have. I also think that we should be able to see our kids' ribs, and we are so used to seeing overweight people (like myself - I really need to lose 20+ pounds, if not more), that we don't even realize how heavy our friends and family are. My "skinny" kids (75th % in height, 45th% in weight) are probably the norm decades ago, and yet people comment on how skinny they are. My chubby ds (90th % in height and weight) was told by the pediatrician that he's fine, although his BMI is "at risk" - he can pinch an inch, and does have belly fat. He is not big-boned, just looks like he is.

I find so many parents who label their children "solid," when in fact, they are fat. However, if the whole family is "solid," they just don't see it. Several years ago, there was a tragic tourist boating accident, because although the boat didn't go over the occupancy limit, it was an old boat, and the occupants were hundreds of pounds over what the expectancy was decades ago. Scary.

I think schools need to be frantically figuring out ways to best educate our children. Let the doctors worry about their weight.

I toss the letters. If I really want to know my kids' BMI, I'll figure it out myself since Google is my best friend.

I'd prefer the schools not waste the time and money on this.

 

[punkin]

I find so many parents who label their children "solid," when in fact, they are fat. However, if the whole family is "solid," they just don't see it.

My child is "solid" because she is in a competitive sport. Her BMI is just barely below overweight yet her stomach is concave and I can count every one of her ribs. I can also see bones sticking out from her shoulders. On the other hand, her thighs are huge - solid muscle.

Please do not generalize. That's the problem with BMI to begin with - too much generalization.

 

[bballmom56]

I think schools need to be frantically figuring out ways to best educate our children. Let the doctors worry about their weight.

I toss the letters. If I really want to know my kids' BMI, I'll figure it out myself since Google is my best friend.

I'd prefer the schools not waste the time and money on this.

Agreed!!!!

 

[cepmom]

Yep, we got one too. My dd, at 5'9" and 138 lbs is considered 'heavy'!!! We pretty much just tossed that letter out. Way to encourage eating disorders!!!

WHAT???? heavy at 138 lbs??? I'm 5'9" and would kill to be 138!

schools/state should stay out if this issue! It's no one's business, but mine, my child's and the Dr's. If schools are so concerned with our children's weight, maybe they should start serving healthier food at lunch. Seriously...you should see the junk that is served here...nachos, chicken nuggets, tater tots, etc. Not exactly healthy choices

 

[monkeybug]

I am 5'7" and weigh 155 this puts me right on the border of overweight under bmi classifications, if you saw me you would tell me to eat a cheeseburger with all the fixings.

Same here! (well not now, right now I'm pregnant but not enough that it's obvious, so people would probably tell me to have a salad and skip the burger)
I am 5'6 and when I weighed 130lbs. my family nagged me constantly to eat more, I thought they were crazy. Then I went to the Dr. when I got pregnant with my first, and he told me he was surprised I even got pregnant, and that I was "dangerously thin". I freaked! According to everything I had read I was a perfectly healthy weight for my height and age. Looking back at pictures I can't believe I thought I looked healthy, I looked like a walking skeleton!! Gross!
I look thin and good, and most importantly healthy, at 145-150lbs, even though that is considered near the top of my BMI.

 

[Irin997]

I think the reason some kids show up as "overweight" when they aren't is the same reason athletes show up like that. BMI = body mass indez....not body fat percentage. A body fat percentage test will truly tell you whether a child or adult is overweight. For example, I might have a BMI of about 20 but my body fat percentage is right around 15% because I workout with weights in addition to cardio, so I'm building and maintaining muscle.

The BMI is basically a ratio of weight to height. If you're short but super muscular, you're going to be considered overweight by BMI standards. But most likely you have less than 8% body fat.

A true test of whether someone is overweight or not is body fat percentage testing.

 

[monkeybug]

I think schools need to be frantically figuring out ways to best educate our children. Let the doctors worry about their weight.

I toss the letters. If I really want to know my kids' BMI, I'll figure it out myself since Google is my best friend.

I'd prefer the schools not waste the time and money on this.

 

[monkeybug]

WHAT???? heavy at 138 lbs??? I'm 5'9" and would kill to be 138!

schools/state should stay out if this issue! It's no one's business, but mine, my child's and the Dr's. If schools are so concerned with our children's weight, maybe they should start serving healthier food at lunch. Seriously...you should see the junk that is served here...nachos, chicken nuggets, tater tots, etc. Not exactly healthy choices

I totally agree! I eat lunch with my daughter from time to time, and the stuff they serve there is not what I would consider healthy!!! My daughter brings her lunch from home thank goodness, I would never give her food like that on a regular basis!

 

[Liberty Belle]

Apparently, it was based on his BMI from two months ago. His teacher told me she hated giving them out, but doesn't have a choice. She also said most of the class was classified as overweight. I would only consider one child in the class to be overweight, just by looking at them. Eh, maybe two, one of the girls is a bit chunky, but certainly not fat.

My oldest son got one of those in elementary school. He was in gymnastics and as lean as he could be, honestly. The gym teacher even told him it was wrong - that he just had more muscle mass than most kids.

If they did it now, my youngest would get one, but he is overweight. He has sensory issues with food and it makes things more difficult, but we are working on it!

 

[DISdreamin']

I find so many parents who label their children "solid," when in fact, they are fat. However, if the whole family is "solid," they just don't see it.

I'm fairly certain I know the difference between fat and solid muscle, as I have living, breathing examples of each in our house. My husband does triathlons - 70.3's and Ironman. Muscle. Same with DD - solid muscle. *I* am FAT.

Thus, while I am sure your generalization is sometimes accurate, it is by no means the rule.

 

[mjkacmom]

Are you talking about Lake George? If so it was found that they did have too many passengers, 3 times more than it should have. The capacity rating was wrong due to things that had been added, but it was never tested again so at one point ot could safely hold all those passengers, but at the time of the accident it wasn't capable. So, it did have to do with the weight of the passengers, but because there were too many, not because they were overweight or "solid".

But people are fatter today than in the past, people of all ages.

http://men.webmd.com/news/20041027/average-weight-for-americans-growing-heavier

And I think we are so concerned about some eating disorders, like anorexia and bulimia, that we ignore more common eating disorders, that cause people to eat too much, which are just as dangerous. And there are many people out there who have high BMI's because of large muscle mass. However, there are many people out there who are fat, but consider themselves solid.

I think a big reason is processed food. Back in the day, people ate "junk" food, but they had to make it themselves - homemade cakes, cookies, and ice cream. Think about how much work it is to make french fries. Eating today is just so much easier!

 

[Planogirl]

I imagine that you'll see more and more of this. The government by all appearances is gearing up to "help" people and somehow stop the fat epidemic. I'm not surprised to read that schools are getting involved.

I would support some kind of fitness program and maybe more extensive health classes at the schools. I don't support this BMI nonsense.

 

[npmommie]

Last year I had an "urgent" conference with my daughter's 3rd grade teacher because my daughter (try not to scream or freak out) jumped in a puddle at recess, got all wet and when questioned why she did such a thing replied "I knew I'd be wet all day, but it was too fun not to do." I don't think the teacher appreciated my laughter at such a grave and serious matter that "did not conform to normal third grade behavior."

I was laughing so hard at this!!! the horrors, your child having fun jumping in a puddle. LOL

Our school does not do that. I think it is none of their business.

I don't know if our school does this, but I agree its not the schools business.
it should be between a parent and the pediatrician

I think that all the adults running the school and all the adults running the school system and all the adults who came up with this rule/regulation all the way up the line (local/county/state/Federal) should be held to the same standard AND should have to be 'tested' in the same way AND should have letters given to them in front of their peers to be sent home to mommy. How many legislators would pass? How many governors, Congressmen?

Did they only measure the BMI for the kids? Did they do a skin-fold test? Yes, there *is* an epidemic of obesity and obesity-related syndromes/diseases in this country, but if they ONLY measured the children's BMIs, that does not accurate assess overall health. And just because someone is thin doesn't mean that they are ipso facto "healthy".

And if the schools are so all-fired concerned about the health of American children, then they need to have daily PE and more than one skimpy recess a day. And they need to serve a more healthy menu for breakfast & lunch. And they need to have a better assessment of health than a measurement that only measures fat. Anyway, if the school used the BMI (instead of a fat-measuring method), the BMI was never intended to be used as a diagnostic tool for individual's health and is poorly-suited to be used as such. Wikipedia has a great well-researched article about it: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Body_mass_index .

 

[happygirl]

I think it's good that schools are trying to help students that might be a little over weight. Everyone keeps saying well that bewteen my and my child Dr. How is teh school supposed to know if the child see a Dr. on a regular basis

 

[tazdev3225]

Roll your eyes and let it go. You will unfortunately get many more "important" letters from the school. Last year I had an "urgent" conference with my daughter's 3rd grade teacher because my daughter (try not to scream or freak out) jumped in a puddle at recess, got all wet and when questioned why she did such a thing replied "I knew I'd be wet all day, but it was too fun not to do." I don't think the teacher appreciated my laughter at such a grave and serious matter that "did not conform to normal third grade behavior."

Thank you for a good laugh. I could just picture my daughter dong this at that age. I think the schools read way too much into children's behaviors.

And if the schools are so all-fired concerned about the health of American children, then they need to have daily PE and more than one skimpy recess a day. And they need to serve a more healthy menu for breakfast & lunch.

You get one recess, you're lucky. My DGD is in kindergarten, goes all day and gets maybe 10 minutes to play at lunch. There is no such thing as recess anymore around here.
I totally agree about the lunches. They are horrible. I just read a report where a teacher tried to eat the school lunches and it started to have an adverse effect on her health. I can't remember all the details though.

 

[Myothername]

Roll your eyes and let it go. You will unfortunately get many more "important" letters from the school. Last year I had an "urgent" conference with my daughter's 3rd grade teacher because my daughter (try not to scream or freak out) jumped in a puddle at recess, got all wet and when questioned why she did such a thing replied "I knew I'd be wet all day, but it was too fun not to do." I don't think the teacher appreciated my laughter at such a grave and serious matter that "did not conform to normal third grade behavior."

I love your daughter. I think we all need this attitude. Apparently her teacher did not have children. If she did, poor kids.

 

[luvmy3]

But people are fatter today than in the past, people of all ages.

http://men.webmd.com/news/20041027/average-weight-for-americans-growing-heavier

And I think we are so concerned about some eating disorders, like anorexia and bulimia, that we ignore more common eating disorders, that cause people to eat too much, which are just as dangerous. And there are many people out there who have high BMI's because of large muscle mass. However, there are many people out there who are fat, but consider themselves solid.

I think a big reason is processed food. Back in the day, people ate "junk" food, but they had to make it themselves - homemade cakes, cookies, and ice cream. Think about how much work it is to make french fries. Eating today is just so much easier!

I never said they weren't but in your previous post you were insinuating that the boat had (capsized) because the passangers on it were overweight, and that was not the case.

 

[luvmy3]

I think it's good that schools are trying to help students that might be a little over weight. Everyone keeps saying well that bewteen my and my child Dr. How is teh school supposed to know if the child see a Dr. on a regular basis

Its really none of the schools business, if they recieve their required forms then anything I do with my child as far as doctor visits is not their concern.

 

[Myothername]

One reason kids are overweight is there is no recess anymore. I remember in the 70s we got 30 minutes in the morning and 30 minutes in the afternoon. And we had PE for an hour.