Posted by Jonathan Adler:
Obesity Report Cards:
http://volokh.com/archives/archive_2007_01_07-2007_01_13.shtml#1168263085
Math: A; English: B; History: A; Spanish: B; Body Mass Index: F
It seems that some schools are joining the obesity police. [1]The NYT
reports that some school districts send home report cards on how
children fare on the "Body Mass Index," a crude measure of obesity.
Children that are above the 85th percentile on the BMI are considered
"obese," or at risk of obesity. Pennsylvania, for example, requires
BMI reporting for children in K-8.
The practice of reporting students� body mass scores to parents
originated a few years ago as just one tactic in a war on childhood
obesity that would be fought with fresh, low-fat cafeteria
offerings and expanded physical education. Now, inspired by
impressive results in a few well-financed programs, states
including Delaware, South Carolina and Tennessee have jumped on the
B.M.I. bandwagon, turning the reports � in casual parlance, obesity
report cards � into a new rite of childhood.
Legislators in other states, including New York, have proposed them
as well, while some individual school districts have adopted the
practice. . . .
Even health authorities who support distributing students� scores
worry about these inconsistent messages, saying they could result
in eating disorders and social stigma, misinterpretation of numbers
that experts say are confusing, and a sense of helplessness about
high scores.
�It would be the height of irony if we successfully identified
overweight kids through B.M.I. screening and notification while
continuing to feed them atrocious quality meals and snacks, with
limited if any opportunities for phys ed in school,� said Dr. David
Ludwig, director of the Optimal Weight for Life program at
Children�s Hospital Boston.
References
1.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/08/health/08obesity.html?ex=157680000&en=75f759438ccfbbb9&ei=5124&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink
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