To ask what you think of weighing children in school

[cadburyegg]

Discussion on our school groups about the possibility of weighing children restarting as it was halted in March 2020. Lots of parents think it’s shameful and unnecessary, some are of the opinion that it’s “just for statistics” and can also be useful to see what centile your child is at.

I’m on the fence tbh. What are your thoughts?

@DipSwimSwoosh

My son was weighed in reception. I was told he was severely underweight and never heard anything of it again. No offer of help, nothing.

But that's what your GP is for?

We got a letter a couple of years ago saying that DD was overweight, we never told her. Asked if they’d measured her height & they didn’t know… she’s one of the youngest but one of the tallest in her year, DH is 6’4” & built like a rugby player, she is like him. She could lift me by 8, she’s weirdly strong so it’s not necessarily a fat issue. She did get really podgy last year due to being stuck at home but lost 90% of it by Christmas, she is like the Duracell bunny & is back to normal now. She always gets slightly podgy before a growth spurt & then shoots up out of all her clothes. She grew 6 inches last year so I think we know where the lockdown podge went! She’s still just about too young to worry about her weight, thank goodness.

I used to work in a school office and coordinated with NHS to administrate this scheme.
I can tell you that the statistics are incorrect mainly because most of the parents of overweight children would opt out.
So if the current statistics are saying 20% of children are overweight at Year 6, I would suggest it’s probably nearer 40%.

How can it possibly cause an eating disorder if the results are not shared with the child, but only with parents? UK kids are the fattest in Europe, a lot of parents are just in denial. Just measerments are not enough, there should be a practical and useful follow up recommendations and in very underweight/overweight cases it should be followed by an appointment with a specialist

A pp referencing the BMI thing raises a good point. BMI is such a crude tool at the best of times, and is, frankly, a disaster the rest of the time. But I'd argue that again, it should be dealt with appropriately and sensitively.

DH had a health check shortly before the pandemic. He is not particularly tall and has large/dense bones. He is extremely fit, with very low body fat.... but his BMI came up slightly high. Luckily, the nurse doing the assessment started to comment, looked at him and said, "mmm, I think we can ignore that".

Sadly, I suspect I'm the opposite. My BMI is higher than it should be but I suspect it's doesn't reflect how overweight I really am because I have a very small frame with wrists and ankles that are notably thinner than most people.

How many parents would pay attention, acknowledge that their child is overweight and agree to work with professionals to help them lose weight?

10% of those listed as overweight? 50%, 80%

Sadly, if it's only 10%, it could indeed be that process does more harm than good. If 50%, than it is likely to be more good than harm.

The question is why would it only be a low percentage? Why can't parents appreciate that if experts are telling them their child is overweight, it is worth investing in looking at the reasons.

In a small number of children, it might be explained by a growth spur, very muscular build etc...and that's fine, it can be confirmed at follow up. In most case, it will be because of their diet and/or lack of exercise. It's so sad that so many parents are ignoring the obvious just because they take it as putting the blame in them. Either way, that is most important is their kids' health.

Yes I knew what to do. But there was no advice or follow up, should someone have needed the help.

on balance likely to do more good than harm

@purplepoppet92

Absolutely not. I work in CAMHS eating disorders and you wouldn't believe how many kids this effects. It's often the first time they pay attention to their weight, and then all the kids are discussing their weight with eachother etc, with the learned thinking that heavier is bad.

You wouldn't believe how many kids obesity effects either.

As for being the first time they pay attention to their weight, if more parents had bathroom scales instead of sticking their heads in the sand, simply stepping on and stepping off would've been a normal part of life...something they wouldn't really pay attention to - much like brushing their teeth.

You wouldn't refuse to take a child to the dentist in case they felt 'teeth shamed' would you?

I'd excuse those children who walk to school, or with diagnosed special needs. And make it very difficult for the other parents to opt out (have to hand in a handwritten letter to do so, no simple emails or anything to make it easy, for example).

I'm 55. I have a very clear memory of a woman weighing me at school when I was about 5 or 6 years old. She mad a comment about my stomach (FWIW I was a normal sized child) which I remember as if it happened yesterday. It's my first memory of being conscious of my body; something that has stayed with me to this day. So no, I'm not in favour of this at all.

The BMI range is very large for a reason. I'm small bones too so I know good for me is closer to the lower end than the higher.

I never remember being weighed once in school, although it may have happened.
I think it's fine, as long as children aren't told the figure and no bog deal is made of it for the children.

No I hate the thought of this being done at school. Parents should do this for their children in the privacy of their own home.

I'd excuse those children who walk to school
Why?

If you only walk 10mns to school but eat 2500 calories day, it's still an issue.

I think it's absolutely fine as long as it's not done in front of the other children and the results only are seen by the parents and HCPs (so sent to me by email). In short, as long as it's treated with the same confidentiality as a doctors appointment would be in a surgery.

The only people I've ever known to opt out are the ones with large children, incidentally.

@emmetgirl

I'm 55. I have a very clear memory of a woman weighing me at school when I was about 5 or 6 years old. She mad a comment about my stomach (FWIW I was a normal sized child) which I remember as if it happened yesterday. It's my first memory of being conscious of my body; something that has stayed with me to this day. So no, I'm not in favour of this at all.

Because of something that happened 45 years ago?

Back then, kids were also checked for nits by the nit nurse and sent home with a 'brown envelope' for all the class to see.

Thankfully that doesn't happen in 2021 now either.

You are projecting onto your own DC there I'm afraid.

My dd is in reception and was measured and weighed a couple of weeks ago. I received the letter in the post with her measurements but it doesn't tell me if she's a healthy weight or not, I have to look that up but haven't got round to it. The letter says she's a cm shorter than I thought she was. I also got a letter saying her eyes are fine - I had no idea they were testing her eyes, but I probably just missed that on the original letter. I'm glad it's done.

@vivainsomnia

I'd excuse those children who walk to school Why?

If you only walk 10mns to school but eat 2500 calories day, it's still an issue.

Agree. But I have to say, I'm convinced that part of our problem is that we don't walk to school often enough. DS has got on top of his weight, he's lost a lot and got much fitter and stronger and part of it is food but part of it is him being older and more independent so out in the park playing football for hours with his buddies etc. DD only does organised activities and I really believe walking to and from school would help a lot. The problem is that we drive because 9/10 me/or DH then has to rush to work afterwards.

But I'm entering a quieter work period so have said to DH I'm going to try walk kids to school most days as it's less of an issue now if I only get to my desk at 9:30.

@newnortherner111

I'd excuse those children who walk to school, or with diagnosed special needs. And make it very difficult for the other parents to opt out (have to hand in a handwritten letter to do so, no simple emails or anything to make it easy, for example).

Huh excuse children who walk to school . We are talking about primary aged children here. I can see the school from my house so we walk . Doesn’t mean my children are healthier than anyone else’s

@Emimummy

No I hate the thought of this being done at school. Parents should do this for their children in the privacy of their own home.

Many parents won't even weigh themselves in their own homes, so I'm not sure they could be trusted to gather their kids statistics.

Or trusted to report them accurately really.

As for walking to school

I live in one of the poorest boroughs in London, where obesity is rife.

Many kids walk to school all the time because their parents don't own cars.

DD went to a private primary school and the NHS wouldn’t go in for routine eye tests, weighing etc. So if that’s case for all areas they are excluding a percentage of children anyway from stats (given higher sport levels in private and link between poverty and obesity I suspect most of those missing would be healthy weight) So when they say x percentage of 11 years olds overweight I always wonder if they’re just talking state educated.

@Triffid1 totally agree about the walking to school. My neighbour has two kids, one high school, one upper primary. She doesn't work. School is 15mns walk away yet every single day she takes them. They are not overweight at all, so not an issue from this perspective but just pure laziness.

The point is that we want to get as complete and accurate statistics as possible so they can be used for public health purposes. Fine if parents opt out, I agree they should have that option, but excluding children who walk to school (or any other group) completely defeats the purpose!