Mich. to require BMI reports on kids

AP ^ | 14 Sept 2011 | KATHY BARKS HOFFMAN

[Palter]

Gov. Rick Snyder plans to direct doctors in Michigan to begin monitoring the body weight of their young patients and provide the data to a state registry in one of the most extensive government efforts to address the growing problem of pediatric obesity, the Associated Press has learned.

The move would help track the state's growing obesity problem while opening the way for doctors to be more proactive in offering advice, Snyder spokeswoman Sara Wurfel told The Associated Press on Tuesday. The Republican governor will announce the initiative Wednesday as part of his proposal for improving Michigan residents' health.

The body mass index statistics for patients under 18 would be reported to the Michigan Care Improvement Registry but the children's identity would remain anonymous. The state already requires doctors to report how many children are immunized.

Arkansas came under fire when it passed a law in 2003 requiring that schools send parents annual measurements of students' BMI, which takes a person's height and weight into account when estimating body fat. The law was modified in 2007 to require fewer years of testing and to give parents more ability to keep their children out of the program.

Michigan's new monitoring system could raise similar concerns.

[Palter]

Better health thru Gov't.

[edcoil]

Some of the finest lineman in the NFL started as large children and their parents now would be put in jail.

[cizinec]

BMI is useless.

[Palter]

No kidding. We would never have gotten Albert.

[wastedyears]

My parents would’ve been in jail as well because I was the other end of the spectrum. Not born premature, but I didn’t eat a lot when I was young and was real skinny. The all-knowing government would’ve decided that my parents were unfit to have me because I was ‘undernourished’, and probably put me in a hellhole.

[fruser1]

You know, two people who’ve never had premarital sex won’t have venereal disease.

So maybe they should keep track of the “unmarried sexually active”.

And, of course, higher chance of AIDS for some folks. Need to keep track of that too.

[dragonblustar]

Now if this were the case, "Mich. to require BMI reports on kids whose parents are on Welfare" I might consider it.

[relictele]

The law was modified in 2007 to require fewer years of testing and to give parents more ability to keep their children out of the program.

Well THANK YOU State of Arkansas for allowing private citizens to remain private! What other gifts will you bestow?

[dblshot]

Is this part of Obama’s Job Program, paying for training of 10000 new BMAs, Body Mass Agents, to stand at the front door of schools and feel up kids to see how fat they are. ID and class pass please. Take off your shoes kid and get on the scales. You, fat boy, over here for a pat down! Miss, since you are wearing a burka go right in. Open that purse missy, any gumballs or moon pies in there? Wheel that chair over here son and crawl up on the scales please.

[ari-freedom]

well, this will cut down on the number of White Castle lawsuits in the future.

[dragonblustar]

plans to direct doctors in Michigan to begin monitoring the body weight of their young patients

How can he do this legally? Doctors don't work for the state.

[Finny]

These kinds of Republicans are more destructive than Democrats because they are doing more damage to the Republican "brand" and the party's future than any Democrat could do. As such, Republicans like Snyder should be targeted for political defeat as much, if not more than, Democrats.

[goodnesswins]

Doctors ALREADY monitor LOTS of stuff for government....and they already monitor weight for EVERYONE....sheesh....this is ridiculous....plus BMI is NOT the best measure for many....altho, I do think it could smoke out the Welfare and Food Stamp crowd

[dblshot]

How can he do this legally? Doctors don't work for the state.
They do if they accept medicare or medicade.

[dragonblustar]

Doctors ALREADY monitor LOTS of stuff for government....and they already monitor weight for EVERYONE....sheesh....this is ridiculous....plus BMI is NOT the best measure for many....altho, I do think it could smoke out the Welfare and Food Stamp crowd

Why doesn't the government look at the food they serve in the schools. What's the fat content of that? Going after the children like this is a form of bullying.

[DPMD]

How about requiring BMI measurements on all of the politicians’ craniums?

[E. Pluribus Unum]

If they can force you to buy medical insurance, they can force you to do anything in the name of “health care.”

[Buckeye McFrog]

Why is a Republican Governor engaged in a Big Brother enterprise like this? Are they ALL on the take from health care companies?

[Palter]

A mindset that they must do something. Some people believe its their duty and that Govt is means to get it done.

[pennyfarmer]

What is Michelle Obama’s BMI??? Anyone know?? I really want to know who I am taking advice from. I hope its not the fat trainer. :)