Arkansas Legislature passed a law last year that goes into effect this school year. Schools are required to put a child's BMI (body mass index) on their reports cards at least once during the school year. They are doing this to try to get a handle on childhood obesity in the state.

While I can agree that something needs to be done about childhood obesity, it really bothers me that they are going to put this on the child's report card. Why not send a letter home to the parents. Kids show other kids their report cards and it start causing a lot of teasing for this kids with high BMI's. I also think that this violates a child privacy by putting this on there.

What do you think?

By Semperspencer on Monday, August 25, 2003 - 04:06 pm:

I agree. BMI has absolutely nothing to do with an academic report card. This is something entirely different, medical in nature, and should be treated as such. i.e. a letter, etc.

By Kaye on Monday, August 25, 2003 - 05:03 pm:

YUCK! That is all I can say to this. I mean hello, what about children who fail the vision screen, should we put that on their report card? I think it is great that the school is going to have weight and BMI screenings done once, but they could handle it just as any other confidential medical info. I think if I were a parent I would be hot. However, I can see a great letter stating that screenings would be done, what does this mean etc. Then sending the results home via envelope with more information.

By Dana on Monday, August 25, 2003 - 05:17 pm:

No debate here from me. I agree with the above posts.

By Karen55 on Monday, August 25, 2003 - 07:32 pm:

I look at that as an invasion of privacy, of a sort. IMO, it should be handled just the same as vision or scoliosis screening is - a letter to the parents from the school nurse.

I think if it were handled correctly, determining the BMI of students could be a good idea, in that it might open the eyes of some parents who otherwise might not realize their child is well on the way to obesity and future health problems, not the least of which are heart related problems.

But to put it on report cards, IMO, is like wearing a sign with your medical info printed on it, and could well be humiliating to many kids.

By Dawnk777 on Monday, August 25, 2003 - 07:48 pm:

That's ridiculous. I agree it should be given to the parents in a letter, just like if your kid needs glasses!

By Claire on Monday, August 25, 2003 - 08:38 pm:

http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/hipaa/

I think I see a lawsuit coming!

I agree it is a serious issue but that imho is just WRONG.

By Annie2871 on Monday, August 25, 2003 - 09:18 pm:

On the news tonight there was a story about the guy who wrote the law has decided that something different needs to be done in this case, however, for it to be changed, the legislature will have to change it now since they passed the law.....here is the link to one of the local tv stations with the story:

http://www.todaysthv.com/news/news.asp?storyid=6910

I hope it gets changed. My child would be one of those with a higher BMI than what they probably say is normal and I wouldn't want her to be embarrassed for any reason by this.

By Juli4 on Monday, August 25, 2003 - 10:06 pm:

I agree that they need to get a handle on childhood obesity. Many children are being done a large disservice by parents not doing more to help children in a helathy way to control their weight. Some children are genetically disposed to be larger than others, but oo many children already have health problems and are well on their way to adult onset diabetes and heart trouble and so on. IT is sad really. Too much t.v. , nintendo and junk food. Many of the kids I know spend hours watching t.v. and playing video games. I was one that spent way too much time watching t.v. growing up. Luckily I was not really diposed to be large anyways

By Brandy on Tuesday, August 26, 2003 - 11:17 am:

I don't think it should be on the report card either it sounds like a note home is the way to go .

By Conni on Tuesday, August 26, 2003 - 03:04 pm:

Well, being from Arkansas, I am pretty embarrassed. LOL That is ONE of the dumbest things I have ever heard of. I hope it gets changed quickly. Because I wont be happy if I see anything about my childs size on his report card. (and they arent large boys, just avg) Maybe the teachers/principals should have their BMI reported on their paychecks??????

By Juli4 on Tuesday, August 26, 2003 - 03:28 pm:

i agree that it should not be on their report cards. What are they thinking. I guess the report card has to be signed so they might feel like they will definetely see it, but that is really not a good reason.

Yes I agree maybe the teachers and staff should post theirs some where.

By Marcia on Wednesday, August 27, 2003 - 08:50 am:

Not only will the parents see it, but the kids will, too. Sounds like a great way to send more kids over the edge with eating disorders.

By Karen55 on Wednesday, August 27, 2003 - 09:24 am:

Exactly, Marcia. And not just OVEReating disorders... there are kids who will go in the opposite direction with that.

When Jen was in grammar school, grade 5 I believe, she had a classmate who was anorexic and was being treated by 2 doctors for it.

I realize that there is more that goes into the anorexia/bulemia thing than usually meets the eye, but particularly in young girls, if they even *think* they are too heavy, there's the chance that some of them will resort to those extremes to be *thin*.

Legal aspects aside, no child needs to see his BMI on a report card, where it's there for anyone to see, and they can be teased about it.

By Jtw on Thursday, August 28, 2003 - 02:45 am:

Is it just me or do we put WAY too much emphasis on weight? Okay, I am a little biased because I am not the ideal weight, but come on! Every night there is a story on the news about how fat our society is, how much we eat, new diet fads, etc. I am so sick of it. Maybe if there wasn't such a huge focus on it it wouldn't be such a big deal. I have never been a skinny person. In high school I felt that no boy would ever like me because I was so fat and ugly. All my friends felt the same way. Now when I look at my pictures from back then I am ashamed of the way I felt. I looked GOOD! I would love to look like that again. Back then I weighed about 150. I know that there are health problems caused by being overweight, but look at how many kids have problems because they are trying to fit societys norm for the "perfect body". And it is not just girls either! Even today, I am the mother of two happy healthy children, I have a gorgeous husband who loves me very much, a good job, lots of friends, etc., but I still feel bad about myself whenever I go somewhere. I always feel like everyone is looking at me. I always am comparing myself to other people. I think I will probably never get over this. When something has been ingrained in your mind for years it does not go away. I really don't know how to cure this problem, except to make sure that I always tell my dk's how beautiful they are no matter what. I really don't want them to go through life feeling crappy about themselves all the time. Other than obgyn appts, I have only been to the doctor one time since I have worked at my current employer (4 years) and that was to get a wart removed. Being overweight does not always mean that you are going to croak at age 30. There are many people who are considered to be very healthy and in shape that die from heart attacks all the time. Why can't we just let kids be kids instead of starting their self esteem issues at such a young age? I think that if your child is overweight that is your problem, and you should deal with it in your family. Why does school need to get involved? Don't they think that parents can see that thier child is fat? Maybe instead of wasting time and money on this they should be worrying about things that actually matter, like helping students who aren't making it, or helping families that actually have real problems, like abuse. This just seems so petty to me.
P.S. In case you couldn't tell, this issue really bugs me!

By Juli4 on Thursday, August 28, 2003 - 09:26 am:

As I am sure most of us would like to change something about ourselves and a lot of us would like to take pounds off. They do seem to give a lot of attention to it. They talk about people being fat and then model women who get paid to look good in movies and everywhere else. A lot of these people do not represent the mainstream. But then again you have to realize that a lof of americans are fat and a lot of children are fat also. Most of them are not fat becuase of health reasons or genetics it is plain and simple. We eat more than we need to and don't move near as often as we should.

Children are being tatught eating habits that in turn make them fat when they are older. I work in a hospital and people come in to have a heart cath done and as soon as they can eat they are eating a wendy burger with biggie fries. Stupid if you ask me. Then we have diabetics (adult onset from not taking care of themselves) hiding candy and asking for cookies while being treated for high sugar. People are just not taking care of themselves. It is something to be concerned about.

I read something that was funny. I can't remember where but it was something like...your fat...eat another burger....you need this...your not good enough...eat another burger...your fat...eat another burger.... anyways it went on and on and then at the end said this is advertise marketing.

It is true they tell us we're fat then try and sell us more junk food. It is our own fault. We are doing ourselves adn children a disservice to allowing ourselves to be this way. So I can see both sides.