to expect a bit more information from the school nurse?

[poachedeggs]

DS was weighed and measured at school recently (he's 5). Today we got a standard letter listing his height, weight and BMI.

There was no info on what his BMI meant, no chart or explanation. Initially I thought it seemed very low so I did some googling and checked on the NHS website.

It turns out he's on the 94th centile and is classed as obese. And I only know this because I looked for more information. DH was just saying to me that the school would have flagged up any problems. I'd say this is a problem! How many parents are assuming everything is OK when actually their children are at risk of health problems?

I know DS has a tendency to be chubby so we're fairly careful with his diet and we make sure he walks and cycles to school, and we take him swimming. I'm not surprised he's overweight (but I am shocked by how much). I'm really pissed off that the school measures him then does nothing with the information!

they might not be able to tell an overweight child from a crowd of them, but there aren't many that would look at an overweight child and suddenly decide they are underweight, solely due to a letter from school, which is what the OP suggests.

And the reason they don't send letters out anymore was because so many parents complained about being told their overweight child was overweight.

I don't agree, if your child seems average for their class and you get a letter that looks like they are underweight you might easily just assume that you live in a slim area, and that their classmates are also underweight.

OP is not saying that parental are idiots, just that the letter's are confusing. Particularly given most people's total lack of understanding about what healthy looks like.

MissCellania, you said:
"Which means you think parents are all idiots."
"they don't send letters out anymore was because so many parents complained about being told their overweight child was overweight"

Ergo my point about perhaps they could send the information, with appropriate context, and then parents can contact the nurse for themselves if they so wish. Without the context it isn't clear whether there's a problem or not.