College Students too FAT to graduate

www.cnn.com...

Students at Lincoln University with a body mass index of 30 or above, reflective of obesity, must take a fitness course that meets three hours per week. Those who are assigned to the class but do not complete it cannot graduate

For those who have hoorah'd the non-smoking measures, maybe YOU are next on government's hit list.


The day may come when you might be yanked out of your car and tazered for "driving while obese"




[edit on 10-12-2009 by Bombeni]

Wow. I don't really know what to think of that. I've been both obese and anorexic and all i can say is i'm in two mind's about it all. But i'll have to say i don't think a person's weight should have any impact on graduating, unless it was to graduate from, say a personal training course, nutrition course, that sort of thing. But all i can see it doing is shaming the ones who try to get their BMI under 30 and fail. Plus BMI is quite tricky, it can differ with certain people i've heard, like athletes with extra muscle.

It's important to note that although BMI is accurate most of the time, it may overestimate or underestimate body fat. For example, BMI doesn't distinguish between body fat and muscle mass, which weighs more than fat. Many NFL players have been labeled "obese" because of their high BMI, when they actually have a low percentage of body fat.

I don't know how reliable that source is, but i've heard it elsewhere many times, so i would like to see how they police that on a person by person basis. - the link is here if you wanted to read more.

BMI never gives the full story. I got a letter home that my 8 yo daughter's BMI was on the high side of normal. She's 4'8", weighs about 70 lbs and since she plays soccer and does kung-fu she's very muscular. She wears a size 12 slim with the waist elastic pulled all the way in and the school is warning me about signs of obesity.

reply to post by Mountainmeg


I'm so opposed to schools (particularly primary schools) Checking children's BMI's. That's exactly the sort of thing that leads to eating disorders and low self-esteem. They should just be focusing on eating a healthy balanced diet & making sure the kids are putting in some time each day to run around and play and have fun being kids. They have plenty of time to worry about outer appearance when they get older! Inner health should be a priority!

What does this honestly have to do with socialism?

Socialism is an economic system, not a blanket term for authoritarian politics.

Edit: Ah, I see that you've changed it from 'socialism' to 'government'. Good job.

[edit on 10-12-2009 by Someone336]

Originally posted by Mountainmeg
BMI never gives the full story. I got a letter home that my 8 yo daughter's BMI was on the high side of normal. She's 4'8", weighs about 70 lbs and since she plays soccer and does kung-fu she's very muscular. She wears a size 12 slim with the waist elastic pulled all the way in and the school is warning me about signs of obesity.

The problem is government whether local or national, dictating this crapola to us. I believe a lot of people have genes that just make them big. Now I know fat is fat, but a college not allowing graduating because you like to eat, that is another final straw in a whole haystack.

Speaking of haystacks, does anyone remember Haystack Calhoun?
www.bodyslamming.com...




[edit on 10-12-2009 by Bombeni]

I know this is college, but imagine what happens when/if/already spread into public education. Then look at the report from USA Today where they found the US Gov. serving low grade food.

It's crazy, but we all know it is cheaper to eat junk food than it is to eat healthy. This country is going down the tubes.

Well, there goes their IT department. No one will ever graduate.

As far as BMI is concearned, it is complete rubbish! I'm 5'6" and weigh
12 stone, which according to my BMI, puts me as overweight, yet I go to the gym 4 times a week, run, play Rugby and lift weights. There isn't an inch of fat on me, I've got a 32" waist for christ's sake.

BMI doesn't take into consideration muscle mass or bone density, which can differ from one person to the next. I can't believe that the medical profession even take it seriously. Do they know that there is no such thing as a "normal" person?

In the immortal words of the character Denny Crane from the TV Show Boston Legal:

- "I like chubby sex!"



Other than that you guys should check out these two threads of ATS for some additional information on this topic:

• Obese students forced to take fitness class at Pennsylvania university to graduate
  
  
• College's too-fat-to-graduate rule under fire
  

This is just crazy. Maybe these students wouldn't be obese if they didn't have to sit on their duffs all day studying

Seriously, I think that the students that are complaining about this class should be appreciative that their school cares about their obesity. Do they realize that, aside form health concerns, obese people are much, much less likely to get ANY job they interview for? Businesses don't want obese people working for them...they see the weight issue as a symbol of laziness. Also, obese folks are more likely to take sick days, as they suffer from more illness.

I think this is a good thing; however, I think that they should only apply this rule to new students and "grandfather clause" existing students. After all, these students enrolled and paid money to go to school. They were given a specific set of course work to complete in exchange for a diploma...now that they have completed the required work, the school is adding on additional course work outside the established "contract".

reply to post by Aggie Man


Rubbish! What has your weight got to do with your academic abilities? I didn't get my degree because I go to the gym a lot, I got it because I studied hard. If you pass all your exams, then you have fulfilled enough of the curriculum to pass the course, therefore you should be allowed to graduate. How would you feel if you put 3-4 years of your life into something, performed well in your chosen subject and were then told that all your hard work was for nothing, just because you're not as thin as they say you should be?

As it happens, I actually gained a lot of weight at university (lost it all now thank God) simply because I was sitting in lectures all day, drinking more and buying the cheapest food I could find, which was usually unhealthy, as I was a poor student.

As for the argument that employers don't employ obese people, I think that we'll leave that one up to the employers. I know plenty of obese people with good jobs.

Originally posted by nik1halo

Rubbish! What has your weight got to do with your academic abilities?

I don't know, what? Did I say anything about the academic ability of the obese? NO!

How would you feel if you put 3-4 years of your life into something, performed well in your chosen subject and were then told that all your hard work was for nothing, just because you're not as thin as they say you should be?

I would feel slighted too...that's why I said this change in the school's policy should only apply to new students.

you sure did put a lot of words into my mouth...did you read my post?

Oh, sure there are plenty of obese folks that are gainfully employed; however, folks that are unemployed are disproportionately obese...because employers don't want them...not when the pool to choose from has so many "healthy looking" candidates.

I had to do that crap in college.

Best part was in college I was cycling 300-400 miles a week. Still had to take the "fitness class." The only class was scheduled at such a time to interfere with my routine severely.

My riding was cut in half so I could jog around a track like some geezer.

I gained several pounds that semester.

I petitioned to several administrative folks at the school to let me get back to my routine. They wouldnt budge.

One more case in a lifelong string of examples to not trust and even hate anyone who presumes to take charge of any aspect of my life.

Originally posted by thisguyrighthere
One more case in a lifelong string of examples to not trust and even hate anyone who presumes to take charge of any aspect of my life.

The only way to possibly get around that issue and be successful is to be a self educated entrepreneur.

Originally posted by bkaust
Wow. I don't really know what to think of that. I've been both obese and anorexic and all i can say is i'm in two mind's about it all. But i'll have to say i don't think a person's weight should have any impact on graduating, unless it was to graduate from, say a personal training course, nutrition course, that sort of thing. But all i can see it doing is shaming the ones who try to get their BMI under 30 and fail. Plus BMI is quite tricky, it can differ with certain people i've heard, like athletes with extra muscle.

It's important to note that although BMI is accurate most of the time, it may overestimate or underestimate body fat. For example, BMI doesn't distinguish between body fat and muscle mass, which weighs more than fat. Many NFL players have been labeled "obese" because of their high BMI, when they actually have a low percentage of body fat.

I don't know how reliable that source is, but i've heard it elsewhere many times, so i would like to see how they police that on a person by person basis. - the link is here if you wanted to read more.

any source that claims that is drawing from some of the same flawed sources. Any reputable researcher will note that BMI is wildly flawed to the point of uselessness without a secondary data point, for the exact reasons mentioned here. Basically, BMI as a single classification is idiotic

I like the idea, but the approach is absolutely ridiculous.

Originally posted by nik1halo
reply to post by Aggie Man

 

As it happens, I actually gained a lot of weight at university (lost it all now thank God) simply because I was sitting in lectures all day, drinking more and buying the cheapest food I could find

Sitting in lectures all day is irrelavent. Drinking and eating cheap food is why you got fat.

Here's a few problems:

- Forcing obese individuals to partake in even moderate physical activity can be very hard on the joints.

- Exercise increases hunger and, ultimately, caloric intake. It's likely that forcing obese individuals to exercise, without proper dietary counseling, can cause an increase in body fat percentage.

The most important issue here is, this university's approach completely ignores the cause of obesity. Using exercise to treat obesity is based solely on the energy balance hypothesis.

Calories In (food) - Calories out (metabolism, exercise) = Change in body weight

In other words: Reducing caloric intake or increasing caloric expenditure to cause a negative energy balance will result in weight loss. Unfortunately, this method does not work long term.

Creating a negative energy balance, either by eating less or exercising more, has a few physiological effects that counteract weightloss. It increases hunger and, eventually, it slows the metabolism.

The energy balance hypothesis also disregards the effects of insulin on fat metabolism. Insulin will essentially lock fat into adipocytes if elevated, independent of calories consumed. That is to say, you can work out all you want or semi starve yourself but if insulin levels are elevated, you won't lose fat.

If the University wants to help obese individuals become healthier, it needs to address the issue at the root of the cause.

What is obesity? It is a chronic condition of excess fat accumulation. What regulates fat accumulation? Insulin.

Overeating doesn't cause obesity; obesity causes overeating. Laziness doesn't cause obesity; obesity causes laziness. All of these things are caused by insulin's effects on fat metabolism and yet they are ignored in almost every discussion on obesity treatment.

-Dev

I sincerely don't think that weight should be an issue in obtaining a college degree unless you are going into a health field. I do have to say that I'm disappointed at the number of overweight 'coaches' and PE instructors at my children's schools - from elementary level through high school. You should be able to do everything you are telling the kids to do. Setting a good example by being healthy yourself should be a prerequisite for anyone who will be asking others to 'get healthy'.

It shouldn't matter what your weight is for other professions, unless your size would prevent you from doing it - like having to fit into small spaces or being physically agile.

First they came for the smokers, but I didn't care. I don't smoke. Then they came for the fat people. I didn't care. I wasn't fat... Guess you can see where I'm going with this.

Originally posted by concernedcitizan
First they came for the smokers, but I didn't care. I don't smoke. Then they came for the fat people. I didn't care. I wasn't fat... Guess you can see where I'm going with this.

Strive for excellence...Is that where you were going with that?

[edit on 10-12-2009 by Aggie Man]

reply to post by Aggie Man

Of course. But not mine or anyone elses definition of it.