Maine: School's body-fat test causes uproar

Press Herald ^ | 10-23-03

[SheLion]

AUBURN - A gym teacher's tests of fourth- through sixth-graders' body fat at Webster Intermediate School have triggered complaints by parents who say some children were upset and embarrassed by the results.

"It didn't give any explanation," said Jane Clavet of the slip of paper her sixth-grader received. "It just gave a number. You're fat or your not," she told the Sun Journal of Lewiston.

The furor began about two weeks ago when gym teacher Mary Jo Hodgkin measured students' body mass index, or body fat compared to height and weight, using new laser equipment that the school system had purchased through a grant.

Such body mass tests are recommended by the Maine Department of Education, and Principal Dick Brouillette said his school has been working to promote healthy lifestyles among students.

But many Webster parents said they knew nothing about the test until their kids brought home a printout that they said designated them obese, average or underweight.

Some pupils were in tears when they told their parents about it. Some were confused or suddenly worried about their weight.

A few days after the test, at least three parents had written or called the principal. Others said they complained to the superintendent of schools.

While agreeing that kids should be educated about healthy eating, exercise and obesity, they were angry that the test was given without their permission and that their children were handed sensitive exam scores in front of classmates.

"They're not dumb, they know everybody's being tested for the same thing," Clavet said. "If I had wanted it done I would have had it done at the doctor's office."

Hodgkin did not return phone , but Brouillette said he thought the tests would be helpful.

The principal said he doesn't believe the school should stop doing body mass index exams. In the future, he said, his school might consider confidentiality and parental permission more carefully.

[SheLion]

Anorexia anyone?

[SheLion]

Bump

[HEY4QDEMS]

I recently read an article online which stated that the BMI scale was out of wack for people over 5'10" and was totally rediculous if you were 6'2" and over.

For people 5'10" and over, the best barometer is the old Height-Weight proportionate scale.

[hobbes1]

Dick Brouillette

Is his middle name Creme'?

[SheLion]

Is his middle name Creme'?

[11th Earl of Mar]

Next story:

TEACHER FIRED FOR TELLING KIDS THE TRUTH

[hobbes1]

unfrickinbelievable ping.

[xsmommy]

eating disorders aren't enough of a problem with young girls, let's implement this crap

[hobbes1]

BMI is NOT the Truth.

It is a fairly sad approximation, of what you need to weigh to be a pencil neck geek.

[metesky]

That's not really the point though, is it?
;O)

[hobbes1]

Or...What about a Sixth Grader thats been lifting weights...



5th or 6th is where alot of little boys start

[demnomo]

"What about the kid's self-esteem?"

Sigh. I'm so glad that I homeschool. Liberal public school education = liberal hypocrisy and stupidity.

Leave the kids alone. They get enough messages from our culture that they must be perfect otherwise they are losers.

[CheneyChick]

Perhaps she's doing them a big favor and teaching them awareness of their health and physical condition.... This is a PE course after all.

Kids today need to start moving more. They are going to be in serious health later on - NOW is the time to get started on taking care of their bodies.

[PoorMuttly]

If they gave a test for Fat HEADS, the "Department of Education" would be in trouble.

[xsmommy]

all that is very true, but as the mother of a teenager, let me tell you, girls are obsessed with their weight as it is, and this kind of thing, a brightline test for FAT or NOT, is NOT a good thing. there are much better ways to get kids moving and health conscious.

[SheLion]

eating disorders aren't enough of a problem with young girls, let's implement this crap

That's the truth! Now they will be purging themselves, thinking they are "too fat." What a pity. Only in the State of Maine! :(

[Mr. Bird]

I think it's a good idea to identify kids who may be developing a weight problem. Whether BMI does this, I don't know. I DO know that labeling a kid a fatass in front of his peers is a great way to crush him.

It appears this PE teacher just failed to think things through. But, PE teachers are probably less apt to feel the pangs of oversensitivity. Everyone can see who finishes last in a foot race, or who can't play a certain sport because of their limitations, etc. The teacher was probably thinking, "hey, you can't run the 200 meters without collapsing, why are you surprised when you discover you're overweight? We're not..."

[SheLion]

Kids today need to start moving more. They are going to be in serious health later on - NOW is the time to get started on taking care of their bodies.

I realize that kids are more overweight today then what they were before, but I'm not sure if the schools taking it upon themselves to take body fat measures is the way to go. It seems that ever since Hitlery says "It takes a villiage to raise a child," that the parents have thrown their hands in the air and said "OK!" Raise my kids. It's a mess.

[El Gato]

For people 5'10" and over, the best barometer is the old Height-Weight proportionate scale.

Not sure just what that is, but if it's the old "insurance company" based tables, it's even worse. The very best is to have your % body fat measure directly, that is by measuring your density. This involves weighing you under water (full immersion) as well as normally. Fat is less dense than mussle or bone. In my case that would probably show me as less fat that I really am, because my extra dense bone structure would offset some of the fat.

[CheneyChick]

It seems that ever since Hitlery says "It takes a villiage to raise a child," that the parents have thrown their hands in the air and said "OK!" Raise my kids. It's a mess.

No doubt. Parents do need to be the primary influence here. I guess it depends all on how the information was packaged and presented to the kids at the school, i.e., if it was explained as a total health program with goals and objectives, nutrition awareness and how physical activity plays a role in staying fit. IMHO, kids are not being taught these things and PE class is a good place to start, provided they leave the class motivated and not discouraged.