Should schools be telling parents their children are fat?

At schools in a number of states across the country, students’ Body Mass Index is measured and the results are sent to parents. While some people get upset by these “fat letters,” an article recently published by the American Academy of Pediatrics says it is important for children’s futures.

“No parent would be proud to receive a letter stating their child is in the overweight or obese category, but the awareness and acknowledgment that he or she could have a weight problem begins the process of a multidisciplinary approach to change. It is time to put aside this pride for the future of our children’s health,” writes author Michael R. Flaherty.

While KIRO Radio host Tom Tangney finds it unusual a parent wouldn’t recognize their kid was overweight, co-host John Curley says it seems there’s a good number that don’t.

“Apparently there are a lot of parents who just say, oh he’s big boned, or he’s a little overweight, or he’s kind of chubby, but I was that way when I was his age and I outgrew it.”

For those parents who explain away their kids’ weight or don’t think of it as a real health threat, Tom says a letter from the school would likely be a pretty good wake-up call.

“If I was a parent and I got that about my kid, I’d sort of know, if the school district actually takes note of my kid, and they think it’s a problem, I maybe better address it and take it more seriously than I have been so far.”

Tom says we have hearing tests and sight tests at school and if obesity is a danger to kids, it’s important to point those problems out to parents too.

“If we think obesity is a dangerous medical development, I think it makes some sense to put parents on notice.”