As schools warm up to the idea of including a child's BMI (Body Mass Index) on his or her report card, perhaps we should evaluate the way we address the issue of childhood obesity. Yes, a high BMI can be dangerous. But as we've seen, the BMI can also be incredibly misleading.
And what are parents supposed to do with this assessment, especially if their children are supposedly receiving quality nutrition from the school? Though this "grade" is intended to help parents be aware of their child's health issues, couldn't it also become just another thing for which a child is teased and bullied?
In the Teaching Tolerance activity Understanding Size Bias, Dr. Rebecca Puhl explores the facets of childhood "obesity" and the societal repercussions while laying the groundwork for parent and teacher discussion.
How would you feel about sending your students (some overweight and some not) home with such a grade?
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