Actually, I agree with you there. BMI was never intended to be a "precise" measurement of body fat. You need to jump into a water vat or undergo analysis with a electronic device to get more detailed info. Which is outside the scope and budget of most schools.
But the truth of the matter is -- kids ARE getting fatter -- And their parents doesn't seem to be aware of it.
Either they don't care or they don't know what to do about it because the parents usually don't take good care of themselves. I suspect the latter.
And guess what? If these parents used a little bit of intelligence, they can go to Amazon.com and do a search. Find fat loss books that have lots of feedback and high ratings from readers. If your budget is low, buy the books used.
And yes, the fat loss industry is over-saturated and extremely confusing at best... You need to sift the wheat from the chaff. Because there are books and information sources out there that will give you EXACT good quality information to whip everyone in the household in great shape.
You see, we have a choice of how we want to be. That is the special thing about human beings -- we are the only living thing on the earth that can do this...
While I understand what you are saying, I'm not sure I agree. Of course the fact that I have basically shunned an urban or even suburban lifestyle in favor of a rural one may have major bearing on my position.
My best friend is 25 and was a softball and basketball player in middle and highschool. I've seen pictures of her from 10 years ago, she was a big girl, but was without a doubt physically fit. Thanks to a state mandated medical "intervention" at 16 she is now grossly obese. She is not sedentary and tries hard to set a good example for her children about eating habits. She puts me to shame when taking a hoe to the weeds in a field. I'm 5'10" and 120#, but I'm also 22 years older than she.
You see, we have a choice of how we want to be. That is the special thing about human beings -- we are the only living thing on the earth that can do this...
I agree without question. That is why I have such an abject hatred of these government imposed "interventions."
I think it may be a third option. The parents are so tired from long commutes and stresses that they come home and just want to go numb. I see friends of mine that wanted the big house and the three cars in the close-in suburbs to Wash DC and they are exhausted from what they put on themselves. Even my BIL and SIL (who have no kids) work these high powered jobs and then come home and do nothing but sit on the couch, watch TV, order take-out pizza and wonder why they are overweight.
It's as if this generation values things more than people.