Will Your Children Be Graded On Their Weight?

We all know that obesity rates in most developed countries are increasing. And more often than not the discussion about obesity focuses on younger generations and children.

 

Now, French author Mr Dukan who promotes a high-protein diet that has seen him sell millions of books and win over a slew of celebrity followers, suggests that students in their last two years of high school should  be awarded extra marks if they manage to maintain an acceptable Body Mass Index (BMI), a measure of body fat based on height and weight.

 

"Obesity is a real public health problem that is rarely – if at all – taken into account by politicians," Mr Dukan told newspaper Le Parisien.

 

He further explains that his education plan would be "a good way to sensitise teenagers to the need for a balanced diet."

 

But don’t our genes play a part in this too? Isn’t it easier for some people than for others to lose weight and to maintain a healthy weight? Wouldn’t the policy punish overweight children?

 

"There is nothing wrong with educating children about nutrition. This will not change anything for those who do not need to lose weight. For the others, it will motivate them" Mr Dunkan says.

 

And while I believe that children (like everyone else) should aim to keep their weight in a healthy range, there have to be limits to how we achieve this. What do you think? Are grades the right way to keep your children's weight in a healthy range?