One mother is worried this won't be good for a pre-teen's self-image.
Kristen Grasso of Naples, Fla., recently received a letter from her 11-year-old's school district suggesting her daughter, Lily, was at an "at risk" weight, according to multiple reports.
Now, Grasso says she's worried about the effect the letter will have on her daughter. "Kids that see results like this test may be classified as overweight and they aren't may develop self-esteem issues," she told local Fox affiliate WFTX-TV.
The school's letter notes that Lily -- who is 5 feet 3 inches tall and weighs 124 pounds, according to the document -- has a body mass index (BMI) that places her in the 89.56 percentile for her age. This classifies her as an "at risk" student. The letter recommends that Grasso talk to Lily's pediatrician and visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website to learn about what BMI means for a developing child.
According to the Florida Department of Health, "[a]ny child who falls at or above the 85th percentile may be considered overweight." But Grasso maintains that Lily is not overweight, telling WFTX-TV that Lily is athletic and therefore muscular. She also says her daughter eats healthy foods.
Kristen Grasso of Naples, Fla., recently received a letter from her 11-year-old's school district suggesting her daughter, Lily, was at an "at risk" weight, according to multiple reports.
Now, Grasso says she's worried about the effect the letter will have on her daughter. "Kids that see results like this test may be classified as overweight and they aren't may develop self-esteem issues," she told local Fox affiliate WFTX-TV.
The school's letter notes that Lily -- who is 5 feet 3 inches tall and weighs 124 pounds, according to the document -- has a body mass index (BMI) that places her in the 89.56 percentile for her age. This classifies her as an "at risk" student. The letter recommends that Grasso talk to Lily's pediatrician and visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website to learn about what BMI means for a developing child.
According to the Florida Department of Health, "[a]ny child who falls at or above the 85th percentile may be considered overweight." But Grasso maintains that Lily is not overweight, telling WFTX-TV that Lily is athletic and therefore muscular. She also says her daughter eats healthy foods.
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| LILY GRASSO
"School health screening programs provide valuable information to parents and help ensure that Florida’s students are healthy and ready to learn," said Florida Department of Health spokesperson Sheri Hutchinson in an email to The Huffington Post. Hutchinson noted that parents may opt out of health screenings for their children. Read more:
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