"Fat letters" outrage some California parents

[Jazzy]

Some California parents are outraged because they say their children are being sent home with "fat letters," or notes explaining that their children are considered obese.

California students are required by the California Department of Education to take a Physical Fitness Test that looks at six areas of fitness during grades five, seven and nine.

California happens to be one of 19 states that require schools to screen for obesity, and they do so through a body mass index test (BMI) reading, a height-to-weight ratio measurement that is used by doctors to designate if a person is underweight, normal weight, overweight or obese. This BMI screening is done at the same time as the Physical Fitness Test.

The department also requires that students are notified of their test results, normally via a letter, an information officer from the California Department of Education told CBSNews.com. However, individual local school districts can make the choice to let parents know the results as well. These letters include the BMI of each student.

Childhood obesity rates have more than doubled in children and tripled in adolescents over the last three decades, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Now, more than one-third of children and adolescents were overweight and obese.

Source with video

What are your thoughts on these Fat Letters?

 

[Nebulous's iconNebulous]

Kind of hypocritical because most schools around here have overweight employees, probably all of them. I've yet to see a school with 100% fit and in shape staff members.
But I suppose you cannot blame them for wanting the children to be healthy.

 

[Sinon]

Kind of hypocritical because most schools around here have overweight employees, probably all of them. I've yet to see a school with 100% fit and in shape staff members.
But I suppose you cannot blame them for wanting the children to be healthy.

As an adult, you make your own choices. If you're fat, it's widely accepted that you're fat due to your own actions. Children on the other hand, would be overweight because of their parents/family. Adults working in the school won't be bullied for their weight; children will.

 

[Nebulous's iconNebulous]

Kind of hypocritical because most schools around here have overweight employees, probably all of them. I've yet to see a school with 100% fit and in shape staff members.
But I suppose you cannot blame them for wanting the children to be healthy.

As an adult, you make your own choices. If you're fat, it's widely accepted that you're fat due to your own actions. Children on the other hand, would be overweight because of their parents/family. Adults working in the school won't be bullied for their weight; children will.

That is a very good point!
+1