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iVillage Member
Registered: 09-26-2003
Weekly **HOT TOPIC** Discusion! JOIN!
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Wed, 01-10-2007 - 10:31pm

On the news today I caught a story that is causing major debate!


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iVillage Member
Registered: 09-26-2003
Thu, 01-11-2007 - 2:13pm
No, not on the story I saw on the tv. THe little girl(8yrs old) was given the letter and it was addressed to her mother, but clearly, as nosey as kids are, the little girl opened it on the way home from school!

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Thu, 01-11-2007 - 2:56pm

I do not have a problem with this at all. The letters are mailed (from this particular district and hopefully that would be the norm), and it gives alot of other stats such as vision, hearing, height, etc.

In Illinois, all new physicals (Early Childhood, Pre-K, Kindergarten, 5th, 9th and into state transfers) must have a diabetes screening filled out which is based on the BMI so all of these children are BMI screened by their physician.

Our districts (my sons and the one I work for-I am a school RN) do not do this, but I would not be offended if they did.

One thing I was particularly glad to read in the article is that that school district was working on combating the SEVERE problem of childhood obesity by serving healthy lunches. I think it would be a problem if the letters were sent home from a district that did not have healthy lunch choices, PE or recess time.

Childhood obesity is a huge problem in our society. I think that many people do not realize that is impacting our children's health. Diseases that we use to only see in adults are now showing up in elementary school children. We need to move out of denial and into a mindset of fixing this problem in our country.

 
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-17-2005
Thu, 01-11-2007 - 3:02pm

I don't think I'd be mad...especially if was an all school thing and everyone was given the results of weighing, etc. (Not just the over/under weight kids). People these days seem to make the biggest deal out of some things--that I don't understand.

However, Don't most people already realize that their child is overweight? How is just sending a letter home doing anything. I admit I didn't read the whole article, so maybe there was more to it than that.

My son is overweight, I know it, he knows it and we are working on it. I think I'd feel a little "hurt" if I was sent a note home from the school maybe implying that "Hey, your son is fat. You need to do something about it" when we already trying. However, I don't see anything wrong with letting parents know the results of checks they did at school (all kids, not just over/under weight).

I hope I'm not contradicting myself!! LOL.

Karin

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iVillage Member
Registered: 09-01-2006
Thu, 01-11-2007 - 3:31pm
all the kids/parents got a letter about the meeting. If Hannah was over wt I'd feel bad that she got a letter like that. Hannah's best friends is very over wt and her mother is always commenting about how she's trying to help her loss the wt. The thing is the whole family is over wt, eats fried/fast foods.
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iVillage Member
Registered: 09-01-2006
Thu, 01-11-2007 - 3:33pm

childhood obesity is a huge problem also causing diabetes at an early age.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 09-26-2003
Thu, 01-11-2007 - 3:43pm
The story I heard on the news said that only those who were considered "oveweight" got letters sent home

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iVillage Member
Registered: 06-27-2006
Thu, 01-11-2007 - 4:04pm

I would want to know if my childs BMI was out of whack!! But I think they should be tracking it both ways.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Thu, 01-11-2007 - 4:29pm

It wouldn't bother me receiving a letter, however I would hope they would include all the categories tested, student performance, health fitness zone, and test result as well.

My twins were tested in school last year (a physical fitness test) and it included a BMI. My daughters form (which we received in the mail) indicated she needed improvement pertaining to her BMI. She was .21 out of the healthy/normal range. My daughter had mentioned to me at the time of the test that they measured her height wrong...and sure enough, she was listed as over 2 inches shorter than she actually was at the time of the test! So the test results were inaccurate. And, looking at her form now, they have her weight wrong too! They have her listed her as 2 pounds more than she currently weighs (and the test was taken almost a year ago).

For some parents who may have an overweight child, seeing in writing that their child has a too high BMI may be a wake up call to take a step to healthier eating for the whole family, and make opportunities to increase their childs activity level for the sake of their health.

Lynn

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2005
Thu, 01-11-2007 - 4:55pm

I think that it's important that parents be made aware of the BMI and I how it works. It is equally important that the child's BMI be presented in consideration of the child's muscle mass and that a doctor determine the child's BMI and "at risk" status based upon his/her build.

BMI can be decieving. My son is a healthy weight at the moment but he's about 2 lbs shy of being in "at risk" category. He's 5'4" and 125 lbs. He has a 29 inch waist and a 30 inch inseam. His best friend... same height and 134 lbs is considered "at risk" yet is much thinnner than my son due to him being of muscular build. He has a 27 inch waist and a 30 inch inseam.

Stacy

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-17-2005
Thu, 01-11-2007 - 5:16pm

That's why I kind of have a problem with someone sending me a note that says "your son's BMI shows him in the overweight range. YOur child is overweight." I think there are other factors.

And I'm a Mom that knows my son is overweight. I'm trying!!!

Also, I know my BMI and it puts me in the overweight category too, but I'm not super motivated to do something....;( I wish I was! Although I am concerned about my son, so maybe it is a wakeup call to some people.

Karin

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