This is getting ridiculous.

[entitled]

i understand that obesity is becoming a serious problem in the US, especially in this area. It's the south. Nothing but deep fried stuff and mushy, overcooked veggies. There is a limit to the amount of concern that should be shown.

i just received a letter from the elementary school about my son's BMI. i knew they were doing a health screening. i did NOT know this was going to be a part of it. This letter states:

State law requires your child's school to measure BMI every year and send a report to you. Arkansas schools also screen children to look for problems with hearing and eyesight. Measuring you child's BMI is another way to help improve his health. Actions taken now may lower the risk of developing serious illnesses as a child gets older. So, it is important to measure BMI every year to see if you child is growing and developing in a healthy way.

Is you child's weight a health problem? Your child was weighed and measured on 1/23/2005. A----- was 3 feet 9 inches tall and weighed 49.2 pounds....

If anybody knows anything about young boys and 'normal' weight parameters, it would be obvious that this is a perfectly normal weight for his height at the time. Consider that he's tall for his age and it looks even better.

However, the letter goes on to suggest that we talk to a nutritionist because he was on the higher end of 'healthy weight' and might have problems with becoming 'at risk' within the next few years. What the fuck? He was only five when they did the measurements. What did they expect, 7% body fat?

According to the letter, he's in the 82nd percentile for his height. This is a HUGE improvement, considering he was 99th percentile when he was born and stayed at that percentile for the first year of his life. He's always been just... big.

It's insanity for somebody in an office somewhere to deem it correct to preach on our lifestyle and suggest things that we do anyway because of measurements made based on a system that doesn't work anyway. All it does is ruin children's self-esteem and make them feel even more different than they might already feel. What's the point in doing all of this?

 

[ABSTRUSE]

I knew they were screening weight, but BMI's??? Does this mean they get to punish you if your kid is fat or skinny?

Helllo, does anyone know what food costs these days and that pasta and bread are cheap?

 

[Colleen Thomas]

I'd ignore it.

A new study out by a female researcher found every player in the NFL was overweight. Really surprising news coming on the death of a player, until someone pointed out that according to her scale, just about everyone on the planet would be over weight.

The scales simply don't take anything into account like a heavier musculature or heavier bone structure. My roomate is morbidly obese according to her doctors, but she looks fine and has upper body strength most guys would envy. She swam in college and has braod shoulders with a lot of lean muscle mass packed onto them.

BMI is the new bullshit of the medical field. Just something else to scare people into going to the doctor, in my humble opinion.

 

[entitled]

I knew they were screening weight, but BMI's??? Does this mean they get to punish you if your kid is fat or skinny?

Helllo, does anyone know what food costs these days and that pasta and bread are cheap?

Yes, it does. People in the area have been under the inspection of the Deparment of Human Services for having either overweight or underweight children. It's taken as a sign of abuse or neglect, depending. Our family was targeted for a few months last year because my son is so big and my older daughter is so small. It's actually kind of cute - she looks just like i did at her age, but with big brown eyes.

Anyway, there was a caseworker that came out at least a half dozen times within a two month period. It was always at different times of the day. She poked around to make sure the house was clean, that we had enough food, that the kids were properly cleansed and clothed, etc. i eventually got fed up with it and told her that if she hadn't found anything by that point, she never would, and that if she came back the DHS would have a lawsuit on their hands.

It's also not just the cost of food. It's convenience. A good, healthy meal doesn't take long to make, but actually going to the store and finding everything needed to make it can wreak havoc on somebody with a busy schedule. i can get away with it because i run a business out of the house and can pick and choose my time off. Other people can't do that. They tend to rely on macaroni and cheese, ramen noodles, hamburger helpers, sandwiches, and other high-carb, high-fat quick and easy type meals.

 

[entitled]

I'd ignore it.

A new study out by a female researcher found every player in the NFL was overweight. Really surprising news coming on the death of a player, until someone pointed out that according to her scale, just about everyone on the planet would be over weight.

The scales simply don't take anything into account like a heavier musculature or heavier bone structure. My roomate is morbidly obese according to her doctors, but she looks fine and has upper body strength most guys would envy. She swam in college and has braod shoulders with a lot of lean muscle mass packed onto them.

BMI is the new bullshit of the medical field. Just something else to scare people into going to the doctor, in my humble opinion.

Normally i would ignore it, but this just pisses me off. BMI has been PROVEN to be more or less worthless. It's easy to mess with the results. They still insist on subjecting elementary age children to this.

Not only that, but they said my son is at risk. There's no way! He's honestly one of the healthiest children i have ever run across. Perfect strangers have told me as much, too. They simply shouldn't be doing this - other people might not know that it's a crock, and may come down hard on their children and themselves.

 

[rgraham666]

Tell me about it.

I'm six feet and weigh 158. I've gained three pounds in the last three decades.

My doctor tells me I should worry about it.

Well, they say laughter is good for the heart.

 

[OhMissScarlett]

i understand that obesity is becoming a serious problem in the US, especially in this area. It's the south. Nothing but deep fried stuff and mushy, overcooked veggies. There is a limit to the amount of concern that should be shown.

i just received a letter from the elementary school about my son's BMI. i knew they were doing a health screening. i did NOT know this was going to be a part of it. This letter states: If anybody knows anything about young boys and 'normal' weight parameters, it would be obvious that this is a perfectly normal weight for his height at the time. Consider that he's tall for his age and it looks even better.

However, the letter goes on to suggest that we talk to a nutritionist because he was on the higher end of 'healthy weight' and might have problems with becoming 'at risk' within the next few years. What the fuck? He was only five when they did the measurements. What did they expect, 7% body fat?

According to the letter, he's in the 82nd percentile for his height. This is a HUGE improvement, considering he was 99th percentile when he was born and stayed at that percentile for the first year of his life. He's always been just... big.

It's insanity for somebody in an office somewhere to deem it correct to preach on our lifestyle and suggest things that we do anyway because of measurements made based on a system that doesn't work anyway. All it does is ruin children's self-esteem and make them feel even more different than they might already feel. What's the point in doing all of this?

Bah. That height and weight seems totally normal to me. My kiddo is 4 1/2 and weighs about 45 lbs. He'd probably be heavier if he hadn't lost a bunch of weight when he was sick last winter. My kid is by no means sedentary and I think that's the only thing we should worry about at that age. Mine too was born big, at 9 lbs, 8 oz. and 22 inches long.

I would worry if he sat around all day and didn't want to play outside. I spend all day yelling at him to slow down, so I think that's a sign that he's normal. Boys that age are muscular, I'm sure anyone who's ever tried to wrangle one into a grocery cart could tell them.

 

[entitled]

Tell me about it.

I'm six feet and weigh 158. I've gained three pounds in the last three decades.

My doctor tells me I should worry about it.

Well, they say laughter is good for the heart.

At least you can laugh about it. Can you see yourself at six years old being told that because you've got an extra pound you're unhealthy?

 

[entitled]

Bah. That height and weight seems totally normal to me. My kiddo is 4 1/2 and weighs about 45 lbs. He'd probably be heavier if he hadn't lost a bunch of weight when he was sick last winter. My kid is by no means sedentary and I think that's the only thing we should worry about at that age. Mine too was born big, at 9 lbs, 8 oz. and 22 inches long.

I would worry if he sat around all day and didn't want to play outside. I spend all day yelling at him to slow down, so I think that's a sign that he's normal. Boys that age are muscular, I'm sure anyone who's ever tried to wrangle one into a grocery cart could tell them.

It IS perfectly normal. He's literally just big - 10 lbs. 8 oz when he was born, and 22 1/4 inches. The doctor was also amazed that it wasn't really all that much fat, like most babies. He's been solid since day one.

Sit around? Not want to play? HA!! He's constantly begging to go out fishing, riding bikes, go on the four wheeler, chase cows, go hunting with the menfolk, climb trees, pick blackberries and grapes when they're in season, work in the garden, play with the dog... you name it!

Idiots.

 

[oggbashan]

At age two my eldest daughter was off the chart for size and weight.

The prediction was that she would be at least seven foot plus tall and weigh 250 lbs. She is now five foot ten.

At birth my youngest daughter was classed as 'brain damaged'. She qualified this year as a medical doctor with a double degree in medicine and surgery to add to her B.Sc. in microbiology.

But they missed the abnormality in my middle daughter's knees. 9 operations later she is still expected to need knee replacements by her mid 30s.

Charts are as good as the people who produce them.

Og

 

[English Lady]

This is a big bug-bear of mine, the fact children are being subjected ot it just baffles my mind, it surely does.

Everyone is different, as colly said in her piece, people are big boned, little boned, naturally skinny or have big shoulders etc etc etc, so a whole range of weights can be healthy.


the BMI is bullshit.

I will never ever be anything less than obese by them because their expectation is just ridiculous! My sister comes out as overweight and good lord, she wears a size 12 (english) more often than not...how can that be overweight???

It's daft, gives people complexes and is no help whatsoever. We should be ocncerntrating on keeping people healthy, no matter their weight, than obsessing over a stupid chart.

Can anyone tell this gets right up my nose?*LOL*

 

[Alex756]

Advice about kids and weight and charts.

Find a pediatrician you do not want to stranggle, iggnore all others.

My daughter is on the other end of the scale for weight. I swear if one more freaking person told me 'oh she's soo skinny' I was going to be up for trial. Guess what? she's tall and skinny. She eats like a crazy child!

She eats more in a day than my friends 4 year old eats in 2, and my daughter i sonly 1 1/2

She is 95% for height and 25% for weight. she is under 3% for weight for height.

So just ignore them!

If your pediatrician is happy, ignore the school.

I'll be getting the nasty gram for being to light I'm sure once she starts

-Alex

 

[shannon_est]

I will never ever be anything less than obese by them because their expectation is just ridiculous! My sister comes out as overweight and good lord, she wears a size 12 (english) more often than not...how can that be overweight???

If memory serves me correctly, Marilyn Monroe wore a size 12 (which would be at 14 U.K.) WTF is their problem?

I just don't get where they can basically get away with (in not so many words, but it's what they're doing) calling someone's child fat. We all know how cruel kids can be to each other, why in the hell do they just wanna give someone a loaded gun too? Arrrggggh!!!!

 

[R. Richard]

Get the necessary BMI inputs for the Ahhhnold Schwartzenegger who was winning Mr. Olympia titles. Run the inputs through a BMI calculator. Take the results and a picture of the young Ahhhnold to someone who uses BMI. Demand an explanation.

 

[eric shawn listo]

Don't worry about fucking shit.

It'a all about insurance companies getting the rates up.

Bascially, aside from congenital stuff,(ie:asmtha, etc) kids are damned healthy until college.

 

[BlackShanglan]

My doctor, thank goodness, is a deeply sensible man. I asked him about ideal weight and mentioned the figure given by BMI calculation as my best target. He had precisely the look I'd expect from someone with any sense: shock, alarm, and a trace of amusement. He gave his professional opinion. The difference was something like 45 pounds.

Still, I suppose that's not that much for a horse.

Shanglan

 

[sweetnpetite]

At age two my eldest daughter was off the chart for size and weight.

The prediction was that she would be at least seven foot plus tall and weigh 250 lbs. She is now five foot ten.

At birth my youngest daughter was classed as 'brain damaged'. She qualified this year as a medical doctor with a double degree in medicine and surgery to add to her B.Sc. in microbiology.

But they missed the abnormality in my middle daughter's knees. 9 operations later she is still expected to need knee replacements by her mid 30s.

Charts are as good as the people who produce them.

Og

Charts are idiotic and next to useless, IMO.

doctors have eyes to see the numbers on the chart, the number on your (child's) chart, but no eyes to look at the kid in front of them and see for themselves if they are healthy, or what is normal *for them*!!! (I have personal experience with this idiocy) Everyone is always telling us that we shouldn't compare ourselves to other people that we should compete with our selves (our own personal bests) bla bla bla, and then they whip out a chart to see how we compare to "normal"

If you've every seen "The Incredibles" you know exactly what I mean. You're punished for any diversion from what is considered 'noraml' or 'average'- weather it's for better or worse. Maybe I'm exagerating just a little bit, but it sure seems that 'normal' (ie- just like everyone else) has become the measure for healthy and good. And it's a piss pour measuring stick if you ask me.

 

[sweetnpetite]

So just ignore them!

If your pediatrician is happy, ignore the school.

I'll be getting the nasty gram for being to light I'm sure once she starts

-Alex

This can be dangerous. School is an 'authority' and you and I unfortuanatly tend to be nothing more than just dumb parents. Go to your doctor and have him write up some sort of statement that your son is healthy and a good weight for him. If you'd like, have him toss in there that he's given you education on nutrition and excersise. That you understand it and follow a healthy lifestyle bla, bla, bla, and take it to the school and insist that they put a copy in his 'permenant record.' Also, make sure to keep a copy and make sure that your doc keeps a copy.

After that, [assuming you really want to stop it] you might want to see if you can get your doctor or some nurses or other medical personalell behind you in an effort to abolish this practice. Write letters to the school, school board, superintendent, city council- whatever with medical evidence why this is harmful and dangerous. Have the docs, nuses, ect sign too. Send copy's off to your legeslature as well, perhaps suggesting that they pass some kind of law that prevents schools from either doing BMI testing or allows parents to opt out or tells them that they can't ***diagnose** obesety (they shouldn't be able to any way) or **perscribe or mandate a course of treatment** (again they shouldn't be able to anyway) including nutrition classes or whatever beyond offering them, and can not punish child or parent for refusing to partisapate in said treatment or program.

Something similer is already in place regarding ADD- teachers and school officials are not allowed to diagnose AD/HD, or to suggest medication or to punish student in any way for refusal to take medication. This, I believe was started by parents who were sick of teachers pushing meds on their kids.

Not saying you have to be a crusader, but you did say you were worried about other kids and parents. If you're lucky with a few doctors behind you, local action will be quick and effective.

At the very least, cover your own ass and make sure the school has documentation of your responsible parenting and your sons health.

sorry this was so long.

 

[BlackShanglan]

After that, [assuming you really want to stop it] you might want to see if you can get your doctor or some nurses or other medical personalell behind you in an effort to abolish this practice. Write letters to the school, school board, superintendent, city council- whatever with medical evidence why this is harmful and dangerous.

I'm taking a guess here, but this has every hallmark of a legislative agenda. That is, I suspect that this BMI-reporting business is the result of legislators trying to look important - so they should be the first port of call. I could be wrong, of course, but most of the time, the more insane things coming out of my local school districts are those wished upon them by either the school board (who exist in an uneasy and at times antithetical relationship with the administration and the teachers) or by the state legislature.

A good first step would be to find out whose decision this was; then target that person relentlessly. The odds are good that most of the people involved in this also think it's insane, but have no choice but to comply.

Shanglan

 

[minsue]

I'm taking a guess here, but this has every hallmark of a legislative agenda. That is, I suspect that this BMI-reporting business is the result of legislators trying to look important - so they should be the first port of call. I could be wrong, of course, but most of the time, the more insane things coming out of my local school districts are those wished upon them by either the school board (who exist in an uneasy and at times antithetical relationship with the administration and the teachers) or by the state legislature.

A good first step would be to find out whose decision this was; then target that person relentlessly. The odds are good that most of the people involved in this also think it's insane, but have no choice but to comply.

Shanglan

Based on the quote from the letter, that both the screening and report to the parents were required by law, I'd say you're right. Bitching to the schools in a situation like this isn't going to do one bit of good. The schools have no choice.

 

[BlackShanglan]

Based on the quote from the letter, that both the screening and report to the parents were required by law, I'd say you're right. Bitching to the schools in a situation like this isn't going to do one bit of good. The schools have no choice.

Right you are - forgot the "state law" line. That seals it.

There's a legislator behind this (or several) - someone who thinks that this will get him/her elected. Do your best to demonstrate that it will have the opposite effect to that intended.

Truly, it's amazing what the legislature does when it gets its hands on the educational system. Between politicians, political appointees, and school boards, nearly everyone has more say in how schools are run than the people who spent years studying to become educators.

 

[minsue]

Right you are - forgot the "state law" line. That seals it.

There's a legislator behind this (or several) - someone who thinks that this will get him/her elected. Do your best to demonstrate that it will have the opposite effect to that intended.

Truly, it's amazing what the legislature does when it gets its hands on the educational system. Between politicians, political appointees, and school boards, nearly everyone has more say in how schools are run than the people who spent years studying to become educators.

What would educators know about running schools? Next you're going to want them to have some say in the curriculum.

 

[BlackShanglan]

Next you're going to want them to have some say in the curriculum.

Now let's not go overboard with this ...

 

[oggbashan]

What would educators know about running schools? Next you're going to want them to have some say in the curriculum.

In the UK they do. The national curriculum is set by the government and the pupils are tested on it.

However, so far the curriculum is reasonably sane. Evolution is allowed as is discussion of paleontology and the weird ideas that some people have about Darwinism.

Og

 

[cloudy]

My youngest is five, and he's close to four feet tall, and weighs 65 lbs. Is he fat? Absolutely not. He's built bigger than my other kids (who were all skin and bones no matter how much they ate), but he's by no means overweight.

He's extremely active - we have a pool and a trampoline, and can't keep him away from either one. He doesn't eat all that much, and he'd much rather be running around outside getting that awful little boy smell than sitting in front of the television.

I dare someone at the school to say something about his size. He's not even chunky, just tall.