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Copyright, 2014
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December 28, 2012
Judge Tom
Blog
2

Should schools be tracking students’ weight?

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Michelle Obama visits elementary school

You have undoubtedly read about the obesity problem in America. It includes adults as well as elementary, middle and high school students. According to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, the United States is the fattest country in the world and is second behind Greece in the number of overweight kids.

First Lady Michelle Obama has taken this on as one of her pet causes over the past four years. We have written about her efforts and what some students have done in this regard. 17% or 12.5 million children between the ages of two and nineteen are obese according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. An additional 16% are overweight and at risk of becoming obese. The main culprit in this epidemic is our culture of fast-food that means high-fat content and low quality and nutrition coupled with minimal physical activity.

Since a good part of the day is spent in school, the question becomes “Are schools to blame for overweight students?” And if so, what can be done to change both the menus and the culture regarding healthy nutrition and exercise. In Illinois, the Naperville School District asks junior high school students to record their weight as part of the physical education program. Officials explain that weight is just one factor considered in assessing a student’s overall health. Strength, endurance, flexibility and cardiovascular health is also considered. Parents may opt out of the program.

Michelle Obama at Parklawn Elementary School

Some parents object to recording their children’s weight claiming that emphasis should be placed on wellness, not weight. Weight becomes a talking point among students who are already pressured by peers and social media to value appearance and being thin over healthy. The program has spread to other states over the past ten years. Arkansas and Michigan, for example, have adopted similar weight tracking programs and body-mass report cards.

In December, 2012, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that limits on  meats and grains in school meals were being lifted to allow more flexibility in developing nutritious menus for students.

 

 

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Judge Tom

The Author Judge Tom

Judge Tom is the founder and moderator of AsktheJudge.info. He is a retired juvenile judge and spent 23 years on the bench. He has written several books for lawyers and judges as well as teens and parents including 'Teen Cyberbullying Investigated' (Free Spirit Publishing) and 'Every Vote Matters: the Power of Your Voice, from Student Elections to the Supreme Court' (Free Spirit Publishing). In 2020, the American Bar Association published "Cyberbullying Law," the nation's first case-law book written for lawyers, judges and law students. When he's not answering teens' questions, Judge Tom volunteers with the American Red Cross and can be found hiking, traveling and reading.

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2 Comments

  • Samuel
    February 5, 2013 9:28 am count( 0 )

    My Weight and Health is mine and my Mom’s Business.

  • Private Schools Australia
    December 29, 2012 4:15 am count( 1 )

    I somehow agree with the statement that the main culprit in this epidemic is our culture of fast-food that means high-fat content and low quality and nutrition coupled with minimal physical activity…