BMI on Children's Report Cards

Most parents believe their child is at a healthy weight, but more than likely the child is overweight.

Arkansas has been giving kids a BMI score since 2004 and now some other US States have recently begun to consider following suit. They may be adding a BMI score to student's report cards along with diet and exercise tips. After all, obesity rates continue to soar in America.

First, it is important to remember what BMI is. BMI is merely a ratio between height and weight that tells you how healthy your weight is. BMI does not take into account frame size or body fat percentage. It is a fast and easy calculation and over time it can be a good tracker of weight fluctuations.

However, would BMI scores on report cards be crossing a line? Some fear it would make children more self conscious and more likely to develop a poor body image. On the other hand, being overweight or obese puts the child at risk for developing chronic disease. The public has to determine which is the greater of the two evils, poor body image or chronic disease?

Perhaps a better time to discuss BMI would be at a child's annual checkup. However, many children in the overweight or obese category are not getting to the doctor once per year.

Since almost every single child has to go to school, this suggests that obesity awareness should be done in the schools. Maybe it's not a matter of adding a BMI score on the report card, but rather more nutrition and physical education instruction implemented in the school systems.

Is a report card the proper way to send out the message that a child is overweight?

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Posted in: Cards,Childrens,Report