Strollerderby

maybe it's because my kid is still a baby, but instead of reading this from a parent's point of view, I thought about how it would have been for me as a kid. well, not just a kid, but as the fat kid. i HATED the presidential fitness test, begged my mom to get me out of gym class, and would have gladly done three months of homework to be able to sit out any gym activity that put me on a scale.

i applaud what massachusetts is trying to do, but hope with all of my heart that it's done privately and tactfully. in my experience, the fat kids know they're fat. they're made aware of it by the other kids every day. they don't need it pointed out by their teachers. but, if done well, this program could save a lot of kids a lot of grief later in life.

anna, I was thinking the same thing. And even if it is done privately, you know that kids are going to discuss it at school....bragging or making fun of others. In my mind, this will lead to the further development of eating disorders.

I teach, and we do this at my school. It is done privately. Each student goes to the nurse(which is a common thing) students who have a BMI that puts them at an obese risk get a sealed letter sent home conveying the information to the parent. It recommends that they see their pediatrician to see if there is a problem, and offers tools/resources such as websites to nutrition information etc. I think that more places should begin this screening, since obesity is such a rising problem.

Generally eating disorders have nothing to do with being teased by classmates about being overweight.  If it was that a larger amount of the population would have these problems rather than the opposite.  I think that most kids would not discuss it the same most kids do not feel the need to show off their report cards to each other in the first place.  The sad thing is that many people are unaware that they and/or their children are overweight.  Many things need to be done to approach childhood obesity.  healthie food options and bringing back both recess and P.E. could do a lot along with teaching kids about proper eating and healthcare.

Anna used an old phrase "the fat kid".  This phrase had meaning growing up in the 70's and 80's because generally there was usually only one in a classroom.  Nobody would be worried about obesity if that were still the case.  Now it's more like 1/3 of the class.  While I could stand to lose weight now, as a kid I didn't have that problem and few of my peers did.  I'm not sure what has changed, but something has.

marj- you make a really good point...

I wonder what kind of food is offered for lunches in Massachusetts...if they have vending machines with awful snacks and soda or serve hot lunches loaded with fat and sodium, then they would be partially at fault for the kids being overweight!  

Shana - I just wanted to clarify a common misconception about eating disordes, their prevalence and the risk factors associated with them. Eating disorders, weight related disorders and obesity have a lot more in common and shared risk factors than you think. Additionally although the prevalence of CLINICALLY DIAGNOSED eating disorders is relatively small (only in comparison to more prevalent diseases like cancer), the amount of American teens who are unhappy with their body and have gone for over 24 hours without food to try and lose weight is alarming. The CDC puts out a study every 2 years if you want more information on these statistics. Furthemore, teasing by classmates and parents is most DEFINITELY related to both eating disorders and obesity.Their is a plethora of data documenting this association if you would like more information. We as parents, teachers, siblings and friends need to be much more sensitive to this issue. Weight based stigma has SEVERE consequences and is associated with suicidal ideation and attempts.

Just thought I'd mention it again, fat people DO realize they are fat.  Really.