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Many Escambia Students To Receive Health Report Cards Beginning Today
December 3, 2008
Escambia first, third, sixth and ninth grade students will be given their health report cards beginning today.
Over 11,900 students in those grades took the Escambia County Health Department’s screening for vision, hearing, blood pressure and body mass index (BMI).
The overall county data shows no increase in obesity rates among first and sixth graders, and a one to two percent increase for third and ninth graders. Even with the two percent increase, ninth graders remain below their highest rate of the past five years.
“While this is very encouraging news for our county – and comes at a time when we know that America’s obesity epidemic is at record-level highs – it also demonstrates that we must broaden our efforts beyond our schools,” said Health Department Director Dr. John Lanza. “Our city and county must commit to a community-wide effort that makes physical activity and healthy eating our way of life.”
The numbers show that a full 20 percent of the 11,933 students in the survey were overweight with a high BMI. Another 16 percent were categorized as being at risk for becoming overweight. Two percent were classified as underweight. That left 62 percent in the normal category.
BMI is a measurement of body fat based on height and weight and is used to screen for health problems associated with an unhealthy body weight. The measurement of students’ BMI in first, third and sixth grades is required by the State of Florida.
The measurement of students’ Body Mass Index in first, third and sixth grades is required by the State of Florida.
A portion of a sample report is below. For a complete same report in pdf format, click here.
Comments
4 Responses to “Many Escambia Students To Receive Health Report Cards Beginning Today”
I believe that this is a good tool to make kids and parents aware of the risks that can be associated with being overweight. From my understanding, it’s not just a piece of paper sent home telling you that your kid is fat. There is actually some health education going on. This may worry some that’s not justified, but there are many overweight kids and parents out there who need a wakeup call such as this. I know this because, I was an overweight child, went through all the teasing and now that I’m older, suffer from the health issues caused by the extra pounds.
Some kids are just going to be big ! At 15 my son was 6′ 1″ and 297 pounds. A football coaches dream but as a Mom I was worried ! And then I get a report from the school ! When I took him to his doctor the doctor laughed ! So as long as your child is active and his /her weight does not stop him/her from haveing a normal childhood DON”T WORRY !!! Just throw the “REPORT” away !!
I was told that BMI is not really realistic. My child came home very upset last year because of his BMI score. He ,yes he, was worried about being fat and unhealthy. He is neither one, but because of that little piece of paper from the county,he still worried. I took him in to his principal and she explained to him that the test was not a very good one because it doesn’t take in to consideration a person’s bone density or muscle tone and that he was fine and healthy. So,parents, if you get one of these and you know your child is healthy, don’t worry about it. I’m sure this test can help in some cases, but in some it just causes undo panic.
Some of them need to lay off the fast food. Subway wouldn’t kill some of these kids instead of McDonalds.