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BMI Report Cards

BMI Report Cards

July 8, 2010 Updated Jul 8, 2010 at 4:03 PM EDT

Along with final report cards for the school year, many kids across the country will be receiving another grade: One showing how they measure up, literally.

Some schools around the nation are now weighing students as part of their annual report, and some kids don't like it. They say that it's "none of the school's business." In seven states, schools are sending home "body mass index" or bmi report cards, letting parents know if their child is overweight. The hope is that this will spur parents to help their child reach a healthy weight. 13 other states are considering adding the bmi on students report cards.

Now, this raises the question: Does a bmi number actually help kids lose weight? Some experts say this could make the child a target for bullying at schools. Others argue that parents that think their child is just a little heavy will get a wake-up call that their child's health is at risk. However, many experts agree that 'getting healthy' begins at home, with parents. And with summer around the corner, parents have a great opportunity to change eating and exercise habits.

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