Boy Scouts shun obese members as controversy continues

reply to post by TheToastmanCometh


First I am only replying to the OP then I will get to others when I read the rest of the thread. I am an Eagle Scout and I was invited to be part of the Staff for this particular Jamboree, after seeing what the qualifications were I was disgusted to say the least. When I was in Scouting, I was a little heavy, but not to the point that I was unable to do anything we went out and did. We had a couple of boys who were on the large side, but we always helped them out and they generally had a great time. Today, I am a bit heavier than then...heck I like food, what can I say. I have lost 50 lbs and continue to do so...but yet even though I am in good health, that makes me some how not able to be Staff? I found it disappointing to say the least. I have worked as Staff at other events and outdoor events for Scouting over the years without a medical issue. No, I think this has to do strictly with someone's misguided approach to the problem.

reply to post by beezzer




Your ignorant American presentation gets a star from me Beez

Originally posted by Montana
Well, this thread has all kinds of disinformation in it, I'm not sure if it was intentional or not.

In years past, the National Jamboree was held in and around Washington, D.C. This year it is being held at Summit Bechtel Family National Scout Reserve. This site is a High Adventure site due to it's distance from hospital and other emergency services. The obesity requirement has always been a condition of High Adventure events. It is not something new, it is just being applied to the Jamboree for the first time because of the new location in the West Virginia mountains.

It is not a "Physical fitness test' it is a maximum Body Mass Index of 40.0.

Someone is considered morbidly obese if he or she is 100 pounds over his or her ideal body weight and has a BMI of 40.0..... Used to determine an individual’s ideal physical condition, BMI calculations have become increasingly popular in determining the specifics of one’s fitness. BMIs of 25.0 to 29.9 fall in the overweight range, while those with 30.0 or higher are considered obese. The average American male has a BMI of 28.5, with females reporting 29.0. Approximately 17 per cent of American children between ages 2 and 19 are considered obese, figures that have doubled for children and tripled for adolescents over the past 20 years, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

It should be common sense that someone who has a BMI of 40.0 presents a much higher risk of physical failure requiring immediate emergency medical help. The Jamboree site is too far from these services for the safety of someone in that level of danger.

edit on 7/16/2013 by Montana because: Not blaming the OP!

Actually it was held at Fort A.P. Hill ( a US Army Post) until a legal case went through at the Federal Level about the Scouts keeping Gays out, then they lost the use of the Post. Funny about these requirements, I do not recall ever seeing them for any High Adventure Camp.

Originally posted by Evil_Santa
As a former boyscout i see no issues with this. A lot of the activities at jamborees require a level of fitness that the an obese child wouldn't be able to accomplish, and the organization would be wasting time/money by allowing them to come.

Yes, but the boys or their parents who are paying the bill and the medical treatment is needed. No if there is an issue with the remoteness of the base, then they were not being "Prepared." I do not recall an event at any scout camp, OA event, Jamboree, trail building or maintenance or Eagle Scout Project, nor 50 miler award a larger kid was unable to do.

Actually, maybe some of y'all should read up on BMI, on how it really doesnt measure physical fitness, and how many NFL and NBA players couldnt pass this BMI standard, yet suffer through grueling practices and are actually paid for physical activity. Maybe if y'all did this I wouldn't have to read through 4 pages of derp again.

I recall we had the Boy Scouts and the Voortrekkers (a similar Afrikaans organization, but more cultural).

Their task was also to keep boys fit for the army.

If the organizations that once kept boys fit are now rejecting them for being unfit that seems a tad self-defeating.

They should at least run a program for those who fail the fitness test to become more fit.

Boys always had different body shapes, and a few were fat.
Some films and books always implied that fat boys were bullied, but I didn't find this in my childhood.
They could pack quite a punch.

Perhaps "fat" then was different to "fat" nowadays.
Today one can see people who are so fat that they are virtually disabled.

I suppose if you can't climb over a hurdle or crawl underneath one, normal activity could be a sheer health risk.

Still, it's a strange idea for kids to go to a fat farm before the Scouts, because in my day such groups were the fat farm.

Originally posted by ShadowMaster


Actually it was held at Fort A.P. Hill ( a US Army Post) until a legal case went through at the Federal Level about the Scouts keeping Gays out, then they lost the use of the Post. Funny about these requirements, I do not recall ever seeing them for any High Adventure Camp.

Then you didn't look, The requirements are an integral part of the yearly medical fitness form. Has been for many years. They are in effect when attending high adventure, or any activity more than 30 minutes from full medical care. (I think 30 minutes, not sure I am remembering correctly.)

A link to the medical notes to parents and physicians about attending High Adventure events.

Link

A link to the part of the annual medical and health form that must be filled and signed by a physician at least once a year if a Scout is attending any event that lasts longer than 72 hours or is designated a High Adventure event.

Link

A link to the OTHER parts of the annual medical form which is completed by parents or guardians and is required for attending any other Scouting event.

Link


Just so we all are talking about the same thing.

reply to post by Montana[/iSilly me. I was under the impression that we were discussing the link in the OP. You know, the one that states they will exclude members because of BMI.