HEALTH & FITNESS

By Tim McNellie | Photo by David Pinchot

SF sophomore Hilary Ford has her weight taken by high school nurse Kathy Macurak.

In accordance with a Pennsylvania Department of Health mandate, schools are now required to perform body mass index (BMI) measurements of their students. BMI is a measure of body fat that is calculated using a person’s height and weight. While students are typically weighed and measured during each school year, at South Fayette, middle school students will now have their BMI calculated each year, with the results sent home to parents. SF elementary students already have their BMI gauged annually.

“The real motivating factor is the desire to do something about childhood obesity and encourage wellness,” said Sandy Fiumara, middle school nurse. “The state’s intention in making it mandatory for Pennsylvania schools to measure BMI is to do something to address the rise in childhood obesity. It is used to give parents useful information that can help their children be healthier.”

The measurement of body mass is intended to help determine whether a person is overweight or underweight. There are health risks with both conditions. An overweight student has an increased risk of developing serious conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke and certain cancers. An underweight student has an increased risk for heart problems, loss of bone mass and anemia. Being underweight may also be a sign of an underlying eating disorder.

The BMI calculation for students takes into account the sex, age, height and weight of the individual. To track changes, the school will plot the BMI on a growth chart. “It can be especially helpful for parents to see the BMI of their children year to year, so I think in future years it will be really helpful for parents to watch their child's progress,” Fiumara says.

The BMI isn’t a definitive measure of obesity, though. As Fiumara points out, athletes and serious dancers may have a higher-than-expected BMI because of increased muscle mass, which weighs more than fat mass.

According to government standards, for example, a muscular athlete like Steelers receiver Hines Ward is overweight, while running back Willie Parker is classified as flat-out obese.

“BMI screening does have limitations,” Fiumara says. “It shows a range of numbers. If you have a high muscle mass, reading your BMI can be a little tricky. The BMI is simply a screening tool.”

Once body mass index calculations are made, those numbers and an explanation of the findings are sent home with children to their parents, with privacy in mind.

Overall, the program, in its second year, has found success in Pennsylvania schools, but the struggle to help students live healthier lives is an ever present one.

“As a school district, we are promoting wellness,” says Denise Beverina Moore, elementary school principal. “We give the parents the information about their children's BMI and then it is up to parents to decide what to do with the information. The child's health care provider is the best person to evaluate whether or not his or her measurements are within a healthy range.” •