Is it a school's duty to warn parents that their kids are overweight?

[DearAbby]

http://denver.momslikeme.com/members/PollActions.aspx?g=1133972&m=15326864

Do you believe that should be the responsibility of the School District?

[hedgehog]

1. We used to get exams for scoliosis. As long as the report is kept

private, i don't see the harm.

[lightfighter11b]

12. no

No, its the parents job. If the parent cant see that their kid is overweight then they have bigger issues. Chances are the parents already know and they are overweight themselves. Sad.

[leftstreet]

2. oh my

:popcorn:

[Mass]

3. My son's gets eyesight exams, hearing exams, scoliosis exams, why not

a calculation of the BMI. The problem though is that it is important to remember that these exams may be faulty and that the parents should go see a doctor before rushing to the latest diet. (the school nurse sends me a notice every year saying my son's glasses are not adequate, my highly qualified optometrist disagrees every year).

Now, I dont think it is a duty, and I would worry if the school was doing anything more than alerting the parents, but it may be an interesting information.

[walldude]

4. How does a parent not know their kid is overweight?

This is a crock.

[BadgerKid]

8. Parents themselves can be overweight

and not think very much of it.

[Cirque du So-What]

10. Do you really want to know?

Researchers have evidence that some parents may be 'blind' to their children's obesity:

Parents May Be in Denial About Their Child's Weight

Denial Among Parents of Overweight Children

Are Parents of Overweight Toddlers in Denial?

But if you insist they're just a bunch of overeducated dumbasses, then I guess we should take the word of an anonymous internet opinionator.

[nunyabidness]

15. Woah down there, Tex. I had the same concern. How about this…

If you can go to jail for endangering a child (it's a law in every state of the nation) there should be a level of obesity that is considered endangerment or even abuse. I'll bet that would yank these parents out of denial. Children look to adults for guidance so if these adults have'nt got enough intelligence to raise a child they should'nt have children.

[SoCalDem]

16. America is still believing the "baby-fat" myth

People used to just say stuff like "When you lose the baby-fat, you'll be slim & trim"..

While it is true, that once upon a time, when boys & girls got their growth spurts, their extra height did even-out their weight, that probably no longer applies since we are no longer exposing our kids to as much physical exertion as they used to have.

It was not uncommon for kids to walk or ride bikes to school every day, and then come home to MORE bike-riding....rush in to supper and then back outside for more (until dark)..

It has not been that way for a very long time, and kids are packing on the pounds..

Kids won't miraculously "lose the weight", and by middle school or high school, it can have a real impact on their psyches if they don't feel good about themselves:(

[Drale]

5. Is it the schools job

to inform parents there kids might have ADD? Yes I think it is, most parents are in denial about there kids. Most likely even after being told your kid is overweight, the parent will still be in denial, but it might give them something to think about.

[DearAbby]

6. One more way to set apart children

set them apart. Like the problem wouldn't be obvious in the first place?

[Barack_America]

7. Maybe schools could start with offering nutritional lunches first.

That sounds like a more productive "duty" than just reminding parents that their kids are fat.

[gratuitous]

9. We say we're concerned about childhood obesity

It leads to any number of health complications later (and sometimes not so later) in life. Why not have a program where the parents are notified, and given referrals to folks who can help out with nutritional information, meal plans, and the like? Raising children isn't easy, and nobody is magically imbued with all the answers when they have a child. Since we don't talk to our neighbors anymore, and with everyone working, the ad hoc networks of mothers getting together are no longer operational, it would really help the community to have someone take the lead in helping parents raise healthy children.

If all that's expected or offered is "Your kid's fat," I don't see that as very useful. If there's some involvement and follow up, as well as practical advice and counseling, why not? Is it nanny state interference, or are we as a society going to quit atomizing ourselves and pull together for the common good. There are many forces heavily invested in making sure that everyone is as isolated as possible, and we're sold this bill of goods that it makes us free and independent. Right up until the moment we take on a lifetime obligation to pay some pharmaceutical company somewhere for blood sugar meters and insulin.

[Name removed]

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[HockeyMom]

11. They accused my daughter of being bulimic

No, they shouldn't label them as overweight either. My daughter ate a lot, but DIDN'T gain weight. One teacher even followed her into the girl's room to make sure she was not purging herself. Nice, right? She was also a very gifted athlete and was constantly "exercising" playing 3 sports. She grew up to play D3 college ice hockey.

I got so fed up with all this that I called a conference and went to school with my 105 lbs, size 1 jeans, size 5 boots, and an ALBUM full of my THIN relatives. Can you say GENES?????? "I" weighed 129 lbs when I was 9 months PREGNANT.

Let these kids be who they are. Thin or CHUBBY. Self esteem? I cannot tell you what this did to my daughter's self esteem. She almost quit playing sports because of this. After I had that meeting, they NEVER EVER said one more thing to her about her weight.

[Winterblues]

14. "It Takes a Village"

Yes and close friends as well..