What do you think about the new school BMI questions?

[Mouse House Mama]

I was looking at some school stuff and now they require that your child's doctor fill out a BMI questionairre. I can't lie, it annoys me. BMI is not an accurate indicator of anything. Why does the state feel the need to add more bs? They have their school physical information. Isn't that enough? What are your thoughts?

 

[Mickeypooh99]

I really don't like it. In our elementary school the 2nd and 3rd grade PE teacher measures the kids BMI. I remember my niece coming home all upset when the she was told her BMI was too high, and she needed to lose weight. I do not think it is the schools place to measure BMI.

 

[peytonsmomie]

The only way I could possibly feel supportive of this is if it incites the schools to increase the amount of PE and active time kids get. I know in some states/districts kids only get 1 day of PE per week, and it's not even an hour on those days!

My daughter(8.5) is of a very sturdy athletic build. Picture the way high school girl's soccer players look, and you have a vision of how my daughter has appeared since she was 4 years old. She's also a very talented athlete who is a start sweep for her select soccer team, a point guard in basketball, a long driving golfer, and she's contemplating wrestling this fall b/c it "looked like fun when DS6 did it."

However, according to the BMI scales, my daughter is obese. Her doctor actually chastised me for even allowing her to see that on the WiiFit, b/c the kid is such an awesomely fit athlete that BMI is only gonna upset her.

So if her school asked about it, they'd have a major mama-bear on their hands!

 

[Mouse House Mama]

I feel the same way. I was always off the charts for height and weight. I wasn't overweight looking back but the pe teachers sure made me feel that way. I was 5'4" by 4th grade! Of course I didn't weight 65lbs! I just don't think the schools should be involved in any discussions about weight etc. That is why we have doctors. I guess it hits a sore spot with me.

 

[Kickapoo Joie Juice]

I think if it showed up on ours I'd find out who was responsible for putting it on there and work to have it removed.

It is not the school's responsibility to track body mass indexes of their students. Unless now NCLB is tying body weight to federal funds, too

I'm always distressed that school districts spend so much time on weird perpheral causes that sometimes the core of education is ignored...

 

[kldmom2000]

MA is going to start something along these lines as well as sending home "warning" letters to the parents....

I find it absolutely ironic considering that in our city, the children get PE for 45 min. ONCE EVERY 6TH SCHOOL DAY!?!?!?!?!? WHAT?!?!? When I was a child, we had it 3x a week!

Don't even get me started on indoor recess!!!! When it's below 45 degrees F here, the recess monitors don't want to be outside, so the kids have to stay inside SEATED reading books or playing a board game...

Where the heck is the exercise?!?!? With MCAS (standardized testing), they stress the core academics and put all the $$$$ into that-nothing is left for the arts and physical education.

Shall I start ranting about the school lunches as well? I only allow my DD to buy once a week because they don't provide the healthiest food IMO. They should stop selling bags of Cheetos and chips in the elementary school as well for snacks.... how about some fruit???

Now they're talking about a LONGER school day here-8am-5pm or there abouts! WHEN pray tell do they expect children to get out there and exercise?!

Good grief! For administrators who are supposed to be really smart, they are in indeed quite stupid!!!!

Ok-off my soapbox now....LOL!

 

[scrapquitler]

I would have a fit. Why the hell does the school need to know my child's BMI? And it isn't an accurate thing anyway.

The schools are getting way to involved in stuff where they should MYOB!

 

[geishagirl81]

I hate BMI. I am not skinny, but I am not fat. My BMI puts me in the obese category because I am a woman who is almost 6"2' and is very sturdy- I am not a tall waif like model gal, lol! My doctor always tells me to disregard the BMI for myself and my son-who is built just like me. He is 2 and is in a 4t, but is thin. Just built like a little line backer. If some at school wrote me a letter, I'd raise hell. As a teacher, it is my duty to monitor many things, but body types should not be one of them. Yes, juvenile obesity is real concern, but like others have posted here, schools must make real changes before they point fingers at home. Considering that NCLB takes so much time out of a school day that recess is miniscule, PE is once a week, and school days are longer, when do kids have time to be fit at school-the biggest chunk of their day? And not every school has the greatest lunch programs either.

 

[okeydokey]

I'm sure the schools are not choosing to do this. It's probably coming from higher up. If they are going to do it, I hope it comes with support for families with obese children. There are many many in my kids' school and many parents don't teach healthy eating to their children so the whole family is obese. My best friend is a PE teacher and discusses health and nutrition with her students. I know it must suck for parents to hear it, but steps taken early in life can have a positive effect.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

I'm sure the schools are not choosing to do this. It's probably coming from higher up. If they are going to do it, I hope it comes with support for families with obese children. There are many many in my kids' school and many parents don't teach healthy eating to their children so the whole family is obese. My best friend is a PE teacher and discusses health and nutrition with her students. I know it must suck for parents to hear it, but steps taken early in life can have a positive effect.[/QUOTE]

Yes but isn't this the job of their doctor? Not the PE teacher. It is now mandatory in NYS to report your BMI info. It has to be filled out by your doctor. It just annoys the heck out of me because it has nothing to do with school. Even though I find the vaxing stuff to be over the top I can at least understand that it could effect other students. If someone has a child with a high BMI it's not like it is contagious. I am so tired of the schools (ie the government) getting involved in things that are none of their business.

ETA- If the whole family is obese do you really think the PE teacher is going to teach a 1st grader how to get their whole family to eat better?

 

[*KeepMovingForward*]

I don't think its any of the schools business and I'd leave that blank along with a letter expressing my objection to the question in the first place. While its nice that the school MAY have a valid reason for asking this, I don't like it. I feel that is something between the child's parents and their physician. I can just imagine that it would be another thing to make kids feel bad or self conscious about themselves with their peers. I remember all too well in PE when we would get height and weight taken each year and everyone knew everyone else's info. I was always tall and thin, but still...nobody's business but my own. I don't want my daughter or son having that pressure on them.

 

[brymolmom]

Wow - I'm surprised how many have so little PE. My kids (K and 1st) have it 3 times per week, not sure how long it is - maybe 50 minutes per class. Not that having PE 3 times a week is going to stop obesity.

On one hand, I agree it is a horrible indicator that does not show what we want it to. On the other, no, schools should not necessarily HAVE to take on the role of doctor (or diciplinarian, or teaching of manners, or teaching of respect, or......), however, we all have to acknowledge that many (too many) parents do not take on the role of parenting seriously enough. This is why, IMO, schools/teachers need to get involved in so many places where they don't necessarily need to be. Yes, if all kids went to the doctor periodically, were working with the doctor on proper diet if their weight is a concern, had a parent who encouraged and enforced proper exercise, had a parent who had the time (and energy and money) to ensure that there is a well balanced, low fat dinner on the table every night, went to the dentist twice a year, and so on - well, then schools wouldn't need to get involved in a lot of things. But, this is not an ideal world and if one kid gets some help from this (not sure if that will happen but MAYBE) - then I guess it's worth it.

And I agree that the school lunch is a good place to start to help with the problem. Not that I think we can go all organic/all healthy. But small steps would be nice. Eliminate mozzarella sticks from the menu is a good first step.

 

[Schmeck]

What you all are not realizing is that many, many children in the US are not seen regularly, or at all, by a doctor. They don't have health insurance, or a way to get to the doctor, or the parent doesn't have the luxury of a day off from work for the appointment, etc. The schools have been stuck taking up the slack for parenting children who have inadequate parents.

One of the weak points about BMI is that it measures weight compared to height. It doesn't differentiate between muscle and fat. It should only be considered as a starting point for a healthy body. If that is explained in the literature sent home, then it is a valuable indicator. From what I have seen in my 7+ years working in public schools is that young children are getting flabbier and flabbier though.

For parents complaining about recess/gym time - one solution is to have the family exercise together at home. Then everyone gets healthier!

 

[daisyduck123]

It doesn't bother me, because my kids are thin (DS is 5'2", 90 lbs...not sure about DD) I guess, if they were at risk for being labeled "obese" by their BMI, then yes, I would probably be upset.

As a teacher though, I can tell you that there are a LOT of parents out there who refuse to see that their children are overweight (just like they refuse to see that their children have behavioral issues). I'm sure that stating the child's BMI wouldn't open all parents' eyes, but if it even gets a few of them to get their children to a doctor, or get rid of all the junk food in the house, or get them to turn off the tv/video games & outside to run & play.....then maybe it's a good thing.

 

[*KeepMovingForward*]

From what I have seen in my 7+ years working in public schools is that young children are getting flabbier and flabbier though.

I do agree with this. When I was a kid you maybe saw one or two obese kids in the entire grade level or for that matter, the entire school.

However, IMO I think this is more tied to technological advances than dietary habits. I ate the same crappy lunches in school that my kids are presently served and I didn't end up obese. I know that 10 years ago I would never have imagined sitting in front of a computer surfing the net for enjoyment in my spare time either...not exactly a butt trimming exercise by any stretch. The kids these days follow suit-internet, computer games, game consoles...all very sedentary activities which don't help. I hardly ever see any of the dozens of kids in my neighborhood outside playing, now they all talk to each other through text messages and their cell while playing their games.

I can appreciate increased gym time in the schools and totally advocate that, but I just think that the BMI number, since it really is not a reliable measurement, isn't going to help do much of anything.

 

[katyjeka]

I homeschool, so I guess I should keep my opinions to myself, but I believe you send your child to school to learn, not to point out children with high BMI's. Janice

 

[Mouse House Mama]

I homeschool, so I guess I should keep my opinions to myself, but I believe you send your child to school to learn, not to point out children with high BMI's. Janice

Exactly!

 

[MM27]

MA is going to start something along these lines as well as sending home "warning" letters to the parents....

I find it absolutely ironic considering that in our city, the children get PE for 45 min. ONCE EVERY 6TH SCHOOL DAY!?!?!?!?!? WHAT?!?!? When I was a child, we had it 3x a week!

Don't even get me started on indoor recess!!!! When it's below 45 degrees F here, the recess monitors don't want to be outside, so the kids have to stay inside SEATED reading books or playing a board game...

Where the heck is the exercise?!?!? With MCAS (standardized testing), they stress the core academics and put all the $$$$ into that-nothing is left for the arts and physical education.

Shall I start ranting about the school lunches as well? I only allow my DD to buy once a week because they don't provide the healthiest food IMO. They should stop selling bags of Cheetos and chips in the elementary school as well for snacks.... how about some fruit???

Now they're talking about a LONGER school day here-8am-5pm or there abouts! WHEN pray tell do they expect children to get out there and exercise?!

Good grief! For administrators who are supposed to be really smart, they are in indeed quite stupid!!!!

Ok-off my soapbox now....LOL!

We always say that you have to give up some of your brain cells to go from teacher to administrator. They forget what it's like trying to teach 25 kids that have been stuck inside all day when they tell us that we can't take them outside for recess unless it's 40 degrees out. I actually got yelled at the other day because I took my class outside after it had rained. I guess I didn't get the memo that kids can't get their shoes wet.

 

[Leajess99]

What you all are not realizing is that many, many children in the US are not seen regularly, or at all, by a doctor. They don't have health insurance, or a way to get to the doctor, or the parent doesn't have the luxury of a day off from work for the appointment, etc. The schools have been stuck taking up the slack for parenting children who have inadequate parents.

One of the weak points about BMI is that it measures weight compared to height. It doesn't differentiate between muscle and fat. It should only be considered as a starting point for a healthy body. If that is explained in the literature sent home, then it is a valuable indicator. From what I have seen in my 7+ years working in public schools is that young children are getting flabbier and flabbier though.
For parents complaining about recess/gym time - one solution is to have the family exercise together at home. Then everyone gets healthier!

I am amazed at what some kids eat. I had one child on my soccer team last season that had to wear size 14/16 and he was 4. For snacks after the game the kids were given a ticket for the concession stand and while this child got all candy that he liked he wanted and got more. It was very sad to see.

As for kids seeing doctors, another reason the schools may be getting involved is to try and help the state's medical costs. Do you know how expensive an EKG or Echo are?? Unfortuantely I do as my daughter was rushed to the ER 2 years ago with complaints of her chest hurting her. She eats healthy and exercises but this scared the heck out of me. Turns out it was just an inflammation in her chest cavity causing it and thankfully something that has passed. My son has had to have a few Echos as his EKGs have come back abnormal but for him it appears they are normal because there is nothing wrong with his heart. We have insurance but it is still very expensive. There was also a story on our news recently about kids having to be placed on meds like Lipitor. I am just shocked at the way some kids eat.

 

[Leajess99]

We always say that you have to give up some of your brain cells to go from teacher to administrator. They forget what it's like trying to teach 25 kids that have been stuck inside all day when they tell us that we can't take them outside for recess unless it's 40 degrees out. I actually got yelled at the other day because I took my class outside after it had rained. I guess I didn't get the memo that kids can't get their shoes wet.

I am so glad our principal is not like this. We have a walking trail around our school and the teachers take the kids for a walk on that if the grass is wet. They need to get outside and thankfully our school agrees. Unfortunately tomorrow it is supposed to rain here so the kids will be stuck inside but they do try to get them some exercise in the classes in the form of dancing and jumping.