Oklahoma state lawmaker wants schoolkids to be weighed: Under proposal, some cases could be turned over to DHS
Friday, November 21st, 2008“Nov. 19–Concerned by estimates that half of Oklahomans are overweight, a state legislator said Tuesday he will file legislation requiring students to be checked annually to identify possible weight problems.
All students 16 years and younger would be required to have a screening to check their body mass indexes, said state Rep. Richard Morrissette.
Students would be weighed and measured, and the BMI data would be used to determine whether they have excess fat or are underweight.
The cost for scales and other equipment is estimated to be less than $3 million, said Morrissette, D-Oklahoma City.
Students in public schools would be checked during the school year. Arrangements would be made for homeschooled students also to be screened, Morrissette said.
”This is not a Democrat or Republican issue; it’s an Oklahoma issue clearly,” Morrissette said.
The checks would find children in the “red zone — those that are in danger of being malnourished or on the other end that their obesity levels are so high that their health is at risk.”
Morrissette, who still isdrafting language for the bill, said letters would be sent to parents of students found to be either overweight or underweight.
The letter would tell parents to take the information to a doctor.
However, if parents don’t work with school and health officials, the matter could be turned over to the state Department of Human Services for possible investigation, he said….”
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