Schools Will Calculate Student Body Fat

Parents are being warned about how to discuss the results of body mass index calculations that will be conducted on students in four different grades this fall.

On Thursday, schools superintendent Dr. Raleigh Buchanan, at his first School Committee meeting since starting the job in July, issued the warning to parents of first, fourth, seventh and 10^th grade students. Students in those grades will get the data, which uses height and weight to measure body fat.

The state Department of Public Health is now requiring schools to conduct the calculation and determine whether a student is underweight, a healthy weight, overweight or obese.

The new mandate comes on the heels of regulations passed last year by the state Public Health Council. The BMI reports began being issued last year to students in 80 school districts statewide and is now being expanded to every district.

The Public Health Council, on its website, says that students with "high BMI are more likely to become overweight or obese adults and be at a higher risk for diabetes, heart disease and some cancers."

The council added that helping students attain a healthy weight and stay there may prevent serious illnesses later in life.

Nurses at each of the district's five schools will conduct the BMI calculations in the coming weeks. The results will be known only by the nurse and released only to parents.

Buchanan cautioned parents about how they share the information with their children.

"The way it is presented to your children can backfire," he said, adding that he encourages parents to "use special caution" in telling their children the results.