by Brooke Lorren

Created on: April 07, 2009

Obesity is a huge problem in the United States. Children are less active than they used to be, and consume more junk food. One might think that sending home a BMI report card to parents of obese children is a good thing, but serious complications could arise from it. Additionally, it wouldn't do much good.

Complications of a BMI Report Card

While the BMI (Body Mass Index) measurement is often a good gauge of whether a child is obese or not, it is not the only indication that a child is healthy. Exceptionally muscular children could have a high Body Mass Index, but a very low body fat percentage. Sending home a report card to parents in instances like this could do more harm than good. Children also go through growth spurts, and even healthy children go through periods where they gain weight right before they get taller.

Sending home a "fat" report card could lead to eating disorders. A child going through a growth spurt that receives a fat report card could believe that they are overweight even when the condition was only temporary, and might end up dieting when they shouldn't.

Fat report cards could lead to bullying and teasing. It is not fun to be overweight, gawky, geeky, or different in school. If other children find out that someone has to take home a fat report card, the child might be teased by the thinner children.

A BMI Report Card Takes Away From Parental Responsibility

Parents are responsible for their children, not the school. Schools should be a place of learning, not social engineering. The more time school staff spends on administering programs like the fat report card, the less time they have to teach basic skills like reading, writing, math, history, and science. Parents should be responsible for teaching character, cleanliness, and proper nutrition and weight control. The more a school acts like a nanny and implements programs like BMI report cards, the more parents feel like they can cede their responsibility of their child's development in that area.

A BMI Report Card Wouldn't Do Much Good

Most parents know if they have an overweight child. When a child goes to the doctor's office, they are notified. When a parent looks at an obese child, it is usually obvious that the child weighs more than they should. Most parents don't want their child to be overweight, but in a fast-food and junk-food culture, sometimes it is difficult to ensure that their child is eating well.
Parenting can be overwhelming, and they are often forced to provide their children with quick meals as they run between activities. What parents and students could use are support and education.

The Solution?

Schools can send home informational packets to every child on nutrition, caloric intake, and other information about a healthy weight. If the child and parent want to act on that information, that is up to them.
The United States is still a free country. The freedoms that we have extend to the freedom to overeat and get fat. There is no need to chastise a child for doing something he or she is free to do.

Learn more about this author, Brooke Lorren.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.