Schools measuring weight & height - I don't like it

[fairyteapot]

My DS is in reception at School and the local health authority are planning to visit his class to weight and measure them. We are assured that all data is kept confidential (yeah - right), and that it's used to track childrens' size across the country etc.

I'm very uncomfortable with this and am thinking about signing the 'opt out'.

He's not overweight, and is a normal healthy 4 year old. But even if he was 'overweight', I don't think it's any of the state's business, and having him weighed and measured by the state feels wrong to me and like an invasion of his privacy.

On the other hand, I don't want him to stand out in his class if he's the only one who has 'opted out'.

What do you think? Am I taking it too seriously? Or are my instincts correct (i.e. p*ss off LHA it's none of your business!).

I can understand the feeling of wanting to defend your son from 'state interference' but if he was born under the NHS, or goes to an LEA school, or you visit an NHS GP with him, then they're already in there.

Its widely reported that we're heading into a national obesity epidemic - maybe this is how the Government can actually find out more about where / when / how this is happening to support families to tackle the problem. The information they collect will be crucial for public health planning. If they did nothing, or introduced measures without having a solid baseline of information, that would be more of a worry for me.

The statistics for individual children will be of little interest in this kind of study - they're looking for averages, patterns and trends. If you compare it with yourself, its a bit like your GP surgery saying they're doing a survey of all patient's blood pressure and giving you a choice to opt out.

In fact your son will have been weighed and measured at birth and those figures help to analyse trends across the country (this is how we know what a low birth weight is - and health trusts in areas with lots of low birth weight babies use this information to target resources accordingly. How do you know he's not overweight now? Just by looking at him (tbh that's how i judge our DDs weight nowadays) or by looking at weight charts? Weight charts are compiled using exactly this sort of information.

This is still your choice on behalf of your son - but hope you do decide he'll take part because the more children that do, the better and more useful the results will be.

I think you're over thinking it. I'd opt in for reasons dreamy gave. BUT if you're comfortable with your sons health/diet/weight, and don't feel that you have anything to gain by taking part, then just opt out. You don't owe anyone an explanation.

Think you're overreacting a bit. What does it matter. They measure childrens intelligence all the time, we have a national census, childrens development is monitored. It's just for statistics so the NHS can look at weight etc trends, and plan for future funding.

I remember being weighed/measured at primary school. I also remember having my hearing tested with those stupid headphones/click-button test. The school dentist came too, but he had a beard and I thought he was either a werewolf or Kenny Everett and went beserk .

I wouldn't worry about it - these 'tests' aren't exactly a new phenomenon and as your DS isn't overweight, no one is going to be knocking on your door demanding push-ups on the count of ten.

I opted out as I didn't see the point and felt it intrusive but did go for the hearing test.

If you do opt in, and your ds isnt skinny dont be superised if your dc result comes back with overweight on it.

I really wonder why people are so worried about this (it semms to be a recurring theme on MN).

As others say, children are assessed all the time at school - on academic ability in all areas, sporting talent, social skills etc.

I don't see what harm there will be in letting him be weighed and measured; and it will help the overall picture as dreamylady says.

It doesn't bother me at all....at least it's not compulsary like SATs.

I was wieghed and measured in reception circa 1976, so it's certainly not a new thing.

DS is in Y6 and will be weighed/measured, but apparently they will not be forcing chidlren who don't want to weighed and measured. Which made me larf, because no one has ever forced DS to do anything he doesn't want to do. However, he seems quite keen.

We had all these as kids. Cant see the problem at all.