School BMI measurements.

[VashtiBunyan]

I have just had the BMI letter for DD saying she is on the 91st centile and so overweight. It also has the link to the online NHS calculator.

I have checked DD's BMI on the calculator before and it has said she is not overweight. So I put the weight and height as reported on the school form (presumably taken while DD was dressed) into the BMI calculator the form recommends, and it says her BMI is 88th centile and she is a healthy weight.

I phoned the school nursing team to ask about this. They said that the figures had already been checked by somebody at the health centre who had recorded DD as being a healthy weight which is why I hadn't been phoned by them about her. Apparently, they don't have any centiles written on the chart between the 75th and 91st, and they have to record BMI to the nearest centile. So if you are between 84th and 90th, they have to put you down as 91st.

So AIBU to think that they should only tell you your child is overweight if your child is actually overweight?

BMI is such a very rough indicator of whether someone is overweight and it's a very generous one at that.

Just use your eyes and your utmost honesty and that will tell you all you need to know.

My DS2 had a flabby belly when he had this done in yr 6 and yet he came back as well within the healthy weight range.

We chucked the letter away and spent the next few months watching his diet and taking him swimming, on bike rides, long walks in the park etc...

He's as thin as a pin now, just like his 2 brothers.