Don't Call Me Fat

As a parent, no I do not want my children's BMI posted on their report card. Although, I do think parents should be held responsible for this problem. With all the resources available to American parents (i.e. doctors, medication, freedom to exercise, etc.) childhood obesity should not exist.

Sent by Christine | 2:43 PM | 4-24-2007

As a health professional, I feel that adressing the child's development (academic and physiologic) needs to be assessed. Obesity is a growing problem and this measure forces acknowledgement of it.

Sent by James Plummer | 3:13 PM | 4-24-2007

"Obesity" is a term derived from the BMI index, which was created to gather statistics, not indicate the health of an individual body. Fat bodies are just as likely as thin bodies to be healthy, active, and productive members of society. Why do we so readily forget that weight (like height or shoe size) falls on a bell curve?

Sent by Debra | 3:15 PM | 4-24-2007

When weight is taken in a doctor's office, the information is protected by doctor-patient confidentiality. What are schools doing to protect the privacy of this information?

Sent by Debra | 3:16 PM | 4-24-2007

I agree children's lives have become more sedentary. I believe that this is also due in part to the fact that children are unable to go outside and play and run as we used to do when we were children. Parents are more concerned and aware of the predators out in the world and keep their kids indoors. The sad side effect of this is what else do they do? Watch tv, play video games, snack. Compounding this problem is that some of the schools are eliminating gym class and recess. Changes don't need to be just made in the home...we need to make changes elsewhere.

Sent by Angela | 3:21 PM | 4-24-2007

Maybe we should increase recess and P.E. classes to help students be more active. It's great that schools are concerned about students' weight. Maybe they should do something about it. My experience however, has been that recesses and PE classes have been reduced since I was a student. Let's get kids active rather than just measure their BMI

Sent by Emily Gray | 3:21 PM | 4-24-2007

Your discussion has focused mostly on diet, but exercise is equally important. Our nation has become increasingly sedentary, with kids spending many hours watching TV and playing video games. This not only affects their physical health but their mental abilities as well. The average American watches 13 years of TV during their life. Perhaps education about the downside of a video-heavy lifestyle would also be appropriate.

Sent by Mark Pasley | 3:22 PM | 4-24-2007

why not make health and nutrition classes a part of the mandatory curriculum at public schools? Wouldn't that be a reasonable compromise between the schools and the families of the students?

Sent by n/a | 3:25 PM | 4-24-2007

I disagree with Christine. The problem is that childhood obesitiy IS defined as parents' responsibility (particularly mom's) and the rest of the society is let off the hook. It should be defined and approached as a social problem: schools, food industry, and policy makers need to take responsibility. It is not a family problem.

Sent by Melissa | 3:27 PM | 4-24-2007

While I think that informing parents is essential, I do not think it should be posted on a report card. Yearly physical results can be discussed with parents in conference or mailed separately. When it is made a public statistic, you run the risk of creating a backlash of eating disorders, low self-esteem, and helplessness. In addition, I think it is more important to create preventative improvements in school; more healthful school lunches and particularly measures to get kids excited about the outdoors and movement. Teaching children and adults alike, that "excercise" can be fun, exciting, and perhaps as simple as taking the stairs in the mall as opposed to the elevator, is the most important step schools needs to take.

Sent by Megan West | 3:43 PM | 4-24-2007

I wish my kids had more freedom to exercise. City streets are designed for the safety of drivers, not bikes or pedestrians, and I will not allow my kids to ride to the store because it is not safe.
I do ride my bicycle to work, but at my peril, as I must pass by the scbool bus company parking lot. Are there any kids walking to school anymore?

Sent by Mark Martin | 3:44 PM | 4-24-2007

Increasing children's activity in the schools has a beneficial effect on all children (with the exception of the precious few who are exercise-bulemic) - it reduces the effects of ADD/ADHD in the classroom, it increases blood flow to the brain, it has been researched as having beneficial effects on long-term brain activity and prevention of Alzheimer's, and it increases strength and mobility in children of all sizes.
When the schools instead decide to single out the 'fat kids,' ostracizing children that already find themselves on the fringe, this becomes absolutely insidious, not to mention lazy on behalf of the schools. If they want to improve health, serve whole foods at lunch and stop with the over-processed, tasteless, nutritionless foods that they buy to save a buck. Encourage kids of all sizes to participate in sports, music and drama after hours - all of these activities lead to action instead of sedentary life. Send ALL parents warnings regarding the effects of extended hours in front of a TV or computer.
Singling out obese children truly helps no one, and leads instead to a reinforcement of poor body image and encourages eating disorders. In addition, many of these schools are already struggling to graduate children who can READ at a high school level, and they should be spending more of their time and our tax dollars doing a better job at that.

Sent by BLR | 3:55 PM | 4-24-2007

Re: BMI discussion and roles schools should play with regards to student health..... I believe schools should ban all foods offerings (outside of lunch & breakfast programs) in public schools. Unfortuately, as a culture we've lost moderation as our guide and the foods offered, rewarded, sold, given to children add up to an excessive sum that is deletorious to childrens health. 30 birthday parties, daily snacks, holiday and classroom parties, rewards, school functions and events, not to mention often unhealthy offerings in school lunch programs provide untold opportunties for kids to make poor choices which results in serious health consequences. As a parent, and taxpayer, I urge schools to stop feeding children. As a parent, I believe it's my job.

Sent by Lorraine Wikstrom | 3:55 PM | 4-24-2007

I believe states are doing untold damage to children in reporting BMI statistics on report cards. The humiliation will be unbearable. Once it's on paper, there is no way to maintain confidentiality. Will prospective colleges and employers begin requiring this information next? Spend the money on proper lunch programs and freedom to "play." I am appalled at the food that is served in schools in the sacred name of the "budget!"

Sent by Sheila | 4:03 PM | 4-24-2007

I think that the reporting of BMI on a report card is the absolute wrong way to handle the situation, or even the use of a BMI as the sole index. I would agree that obesity has become an issue, and the best place to start is in schools.
I think that each student, like with their checkups for vision and hearing, should be checked for weight now as well. But instead of BMI only, they could also do a BF% calculation with a hand held model. That way a ballpark estimate can be placed against a more exact number to determine if the child has health risks resulted to their weight. Then a letter or phone call should be sent to the parents to let them know about possible health risks.
As mentioned on air, the school in question would suggest an after school class for the people that were overweight. Instead of offering it to only the fat kids, offer it to everyone. Even the kids that can eat a whole pizza and not put on a pound can benefit from a class like that.
I also feel that until HS a "fitness education" class should be mandatory that not only covers individual physical exercise but also nutritional information. From what I remember of PE classes is it's all team related "games" with little emphasis on the how to live a fit lifestyle.
I'm also against schools who are taking out the "unhealthy" snacks such as potato chips and soda, why limit something at school that they can gorge on at home? Instead offer more healthy choices than unhealthy ones, that way there is still the personal choice for the students. I do think the cafeteria food should be healthier, but leave the snack machines alone.

Sent by Colt | 5:08 PM | 4-24-2007

I think the idea mentioned that overweight kids be placed in their own P.E. class is actually the best idea I've heard in a long time on this subject.

I was obese as a child, and the PE Class (and the ridicule by fit kids at that time) was particularly detrimental to any attempt to help me become fit. I remember that I would refuse to try in any activity at all, because doing so spared me from additional ridicule associated with the fact that I was actually trying.

Sent by Alejandro Loret de Mola | 6:21 PM | 4-24-2007

A couple of weeks ago you were discussing sleep habits of couples. I was reminded of a cute story I heard. It seems this couple slept in separate beds because of his snoring, but still got together for intimacy. He said that every night he would throw his hat on her bed, sometimes she would throw it back and sometimes she would "bring it back"! Just wanted to share that. I enjoy your program.

Sent by Linda C. Bush | 6:42 PM | 4-24-2007

The problem is that childhood obesitiy IS defined as parents' responsibility (particularly mom's) and the rest of the society is let off the hook. It should be defined and approached as a social problem: schools,
food industry, and policy makers need to take responsibility. Itis not a family problem.
Sent by Melissa

Hoo, boy. This is the kind of attitude that just frosts me. This kind of fuzzy thinking is symptomatic of one of the greatest sicknesses in our society today - the failure to recognize and accept one's own responsibilities and the propensity to blame someone - anyone - else for negative outcomes.

Your child's health, and that includes maintenance of an appropriate weight, IS primarily your responsibility. It is not a "social" (i.e., society's) problem. It is your problem. Schools, the food industry and policy makers do not exist to raise your children for you and do not have to "take responsibility," though they can be more or less helpful to a limited extent.

The "food industry" is responsible for making a broad range of choices, some better than others, available for our selection. It is YOUR responsibility to make - and as the children get older to teach them to make - good decisions about appropriate selections from the cornucopia the food industry makes available to us. It is fundamentally YOUR responsibility (not the school's, not "policy makers") to see to it that your children get adequate exercise. The rest of us are not out here to relieve you of your responsibility to raise your own kids.

The Resident Curmudgeon

Sent by Resident Curmudgeon | 12:06 PM | 4-25-2007

Three quick comments in reaction to this segment:

1) Schools should first rid their cafeterias and vending machines of junk and fast-foods before before assuming any mandatory program for measuring the BMI of their students. It's absolutely ludicrous and hypocritical to be teaching and advocating good nutrition in class while offering fat & carb laden foods, including fast foods items from franchises such as McDonalds & Pizza Hut, at lunch in the cafeteria and sugary, fatty snacks in vending machines.

2) After schools have replaced the junk and fast foods available to students with healthy, nutritious fare, any mandatory measuring of BMI should be done in such a way as to ensure the privacy of each student; other students should not be in a position where they can see or hear the student being measured. The results should be DESCRETELY reported to the parents through the mail.

Seperate PE classes should be offered for overweight or otherwise physically challenged students. If this is not possible then competitive activities should be eliminated from regular PE classes in favor of activities geared to individual performance and improvement.

I grew up fat, and have gone up and down with my weight in a lifetime struggle since I was twelve. Children can be cruel - so cruel - and competitive, team activities in gym classes give kids that are so inclined an extra excuse their cruelty with humiliating and ridiculing comments and behavior directed toward the overweight classmates who they don't want on their team and/or who bring their team down. The harsh judgement of overweight kids from their "normally" sized peers in general is hard enough in school. In my experience, gym was a hell in class by itself.

Sent by Deborah Cohen | 2:39 PM | 4-25-2007

The Air Force recently added BMI to its "report cards" (Enlisted Performance Report). The BMI is a flawed system though.

Sent by Jacob | 1:16 PM | 4-26-2007

I think obesity is only a symptom of the core problem, which is the typical calorie-rich/nutrient-poor diet that most of us eat. This is the problem that we must solve and grading our kids on their level of fatness is not going to solve the problem, it will only hurt their self-esteem.
So who's fault is it that we're fat, that our diet is so poor, and that so many of us (of all ages and sizes) suffer poor health? I think we all share the blame.
My struggle with weight began long before the "obesity crisis". A year ago I took personal responsibility (as Curmudgeon recommends) and began practicing Calorie Restriction. Not a diet, but a lifelong program of restricted calorie intake and optimized nutrition intended to decrease the risk of disease and possibly even extend healthy lifespan.
I've done well on the program and have lost over 100 pounds. I feel a lot better. My doctor says that my already good health is now near perfect.
However, this year also taught me how hard it is to get the nutrition that I need without consuming a ton of calories. Sorry Curmudgeon, but there is a problem with our food industry and don't even get me started talking about restaurants!
I get all my food from supermarkets and natural food stores but it's quite difficult and generally expensive to buy the clean (I prefer organic), fresh, highly nutritious, and low energy density foods that I need.
I think there is hope for the food industry though. If more of us demand top quality food, I'm sure that the industry will move rapidly to meet our demands. But it isn't going to happen unless more of us make the effort to eat right.
Whatever we do, let's not blame our kids for the problem that we created. Instead, let's fix the problem and teach them how to eat right so that they can have healthy long lives.

Sent by SumoPower | 5:18 PM | 4-26-2007

Organic smoreganic, that is a choice, you can buy some lower calorie foods that are not nearly as expensive as organic. If parents can read (which maybe they can't) then they should be able to determine healthy foods.

I agree, personal responsibility---people are quite often easy to dupe.

Sent by sarah | 8:50 PM | 4-26-2007

I would have to question wether blaming certain groups adult,kids and companies ect. with the blame.It all has to do with personal choices about health and lifesyle. Typicaly overweight people are less productive less fuctional and less happy than fit counterparts and like it or not in the end its their respoblity ,they made ealry decision that led to obesity and therefore you can't claim that certain inflences were the dominant factor to say so is to say that obese people have no choice or restiance often i have seen obese people content with their life and simply don't care about recieving cruel remarks, their life stlye relflect they would rather eat cheesits and play xbox they really don't need to appear physical atractive since it doesn't fit their life stlye if they want to enter a more productive life they need to make a effort to elimante their past wrongs and embrace change to want to be active simply blaming other sources doesn't get anything done otherwise there wouldn't be an amercican dream: when you want something to happen you make it happen period.Having other people confront obese people is wrong it reduces the freedoms of that person and insults them.Rather than force a person simply let you know there are soultion if he/she takes the bait good. But if the person doesn't want to change it means they don't want it there fore its usless and forcing a person to change often resluts negatively. I've been to highschool and know its no neccisarly that people don't want to excercise and be healthy it the ablity is hinderd, making and availble exercise room is essiantail,since most obese people would not readily join a team sport that could often embaress and discourage them.If people know there is a tredmill and whatever they will imedilalty flock their they now know its their decision and can be fit when ever they want.Also resposibity must be thrust upon adults if you know your schedule is limiting your childs ablity to excericise change it otherwise its not their fault anyomore its yours.Also if there is a diet problem in school be an advocate and tell your principle how school foods are unhealthy,he/she will have to lsiten. In the end everyone nows this debate is pointless,introducing laws or forcing people to not eat trans fats is wrong.If a person clamors for change in ant sector in life and wins then it is futher testmant that this county is the symbol of freedom and sucess

Sent by doctor.No | 2:31 PM | 4-27-2007

Typical American finger pointing. Clearly its the schools fault, no wait!, the soft drink companies, or snack food vending machines. Wake up and get your kid on a proper diet before its too late. With socialized medicine on the way we're all our brothers keeper, that means you being fat increases my taxes.

Sent by Jimbo | 10:16 PM | 4-27-2007

that's disgusting that our society has sunk t the level where the school has to monitor a studen't BMI. What happened to American Ideals of discipline and success?

Sent by Julie | 7:08 PM | 5-24-2007