From Your Health Journal…..”A very interesting article from a local ABC/FOX channel entitled Public Schools Screen Students for Childhood Obesity using BMI out of Massachusetts. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health requires public schools to screen each student for their BMI in 1st, 4th, 7th and 10th grade. Then all parents are sent a letter with the results. Last year in West Springfield over 33% of students in any of these grades was considered overweight or obese. Of course, this has been a sensitive issue in many parts of the United States, where parents do not want the schools to test their children due to the embarrassment of the situation or lack of sensitivity to the children. Once it has become a routine in many areas, the controversy has lessened to a point where students are not feeling uncomfortable with it, and testing is completed in a non-embarrassing manner. BMI, or Body Mass Index estimates the ideal weight of a person based on its size and weight. The Body mass index is valid for an adult man or woman (18 to 65 years). A high BMI is associated with increased risk of death. The risk of death increases with a high overweight for both men and women (cancer or other diseases) . The factor increases if the person smokes. What is your opinion on this issue? Use the comments section below to share your thoughts, and please visit the ABC/FOX web site (listed below) to read the complete article.”

Want to know your BMI?

From the article…..

Childhood obesity rates have more than tripled in the last 30 years. That’s according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Body Mass Index or BMI, is used to determine obesity rates in public schools across the state.

It’s a regulation that has been in place for 5 years. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health requires public schools to screen each student for their BMI in 1st, 4th, 7th and 10th grade. Then all parents are sent a letter with the results. Last year in West Springfield over 33% of students in any of these grades was considered overweight or obese. But according to West Springfield Superintendent Russell Johnston, the regulation does help.

“It helps to just communicate to parents two important things. Here are the results and if you have any concerns about this we encourage you to speak with your pediatrician or your child’s nurse to follow up because this is just one indication of your child’s weight,” Johnston said.

To read the complete article…..Click here