Should schools report that kids are fat? Some schools are warning parents when their children are overweight. Critics say the tactic does more harm than good - Backtalk - Brief Article

THE PERCENTAGE OF OVERWEIGHT and obese children has doubled in the past 20 years. To combat this problem, the Florida Department of Health for the first time recommended that schools send letters to the parents of 8,355 students (kindergartners through sixth graders, as well as high school freshmen) informing them of their child's body mass index (BMI), a tool used to calculate obesity, and directing them to nutrition and exercise resources. Of those students, 2,126 were overweight of at risk of becoming overweight.

Some parents and teachers objected to the letters, saying that because children's bodies change quickly, the letters prematurely stigmatize children as overweight, leading to low self-esteem.

Health officials say the letters are meant to promote awareness. Schools have always measured children's height and weight, says Bill Parizek, public information specialist at the Florida Department of Health. Now parents have a way to interpret that information in a meaningful way.

What Do You Think?

Should schools inform parents when their children are overweight? Let us know via fax (617-457-0979) or email (naturalhealth@weiderpub.com). Look for your replies in the Mailbox section of our October/November issue.

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