Australian Schools Consider Mandatory Weighing



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Mandatory weighing is being considered to tackle the growing problem of childhood obesity in Australia.

Shocking numbers have shown how much the crisis of obesity is hitting Australia and it is now being asked to make weighings a mandatory part of primary school life.

The Endocrinology Department of Lady Cilento Hospital Diabetes Type II

  Rapid weight loss is more effective for those who look at the scale. (AAP)
Rapid weight loss is more effective for those who watch the scales. (AAP)

In this paper, they discussed the case of a nine-year-old boy from Queensland who weighs 178 kilograms.

At age six, the boy weighed 100 kilograms and had a body mass index. (BMI) of 50.

A BMI of 40 is classified as morbidly obese.

Although excessive weight gain can be attributed to many endocrine and metabolic conditions, the nine-year-old case highlights Australia's growing problem of childhood obesity.

According to new figures, Australia is currently ranked sixth in the overweight world population and one in four Australian children aged five to 17 is considered obese.

The controversial proposal to weigh and measure children

The proposal comes from the Global Obesity Center that tries to highlight the scale of the problem in Australia

Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt , confirmed that he was considering "An early link to sport can positively influence participation and encourage the love of sport and physical activity throughout life."

Details on the weighing project will vary by state, but ultimately the responsibility for monitoring what children eat and how much they exercise will fall on their parents or guardian.

© Nine Digital Pty Ltd 2018

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