The Student Body Page #3

using kilograms for weight

and meters for height.

In the United States, however,

we typically record measures

in pounds and in inches.

Um, as a result,

there's a simple calculation

that can be used and that's, um,

weight over height squared

times 703.

And the result is a...

Is an index

which we call body mass index

which is an indicator

of linearity or thickness.

I'm Dr. Stefan Czerwinski,

I'm the director

of the Fels longitudinal study

which is the longest

running study

of growth development and aging

in the world.

Uh, the study has been

around since 1929

and we continue to collect

body composition data

on children

over their lifespan.

So we use BMI

as an indicator of obesity

or what we often call adiposity.

We also use other measures

that describe that even better

in adults.

We know that

their issues with BMI

just in regard to athletes.

And children in particular, uh,

growth in boys over adolescence,

um, what you're gonna see

is higher BMls

due to muscle,

not because of fat.

And I think most researchers

agree with the fact

that BMI is not

a perfect measure

because it's easy,

it's relatively cheap,

um, it's used probably more

than it necessarily should be.

Why then are lawmakers

putting so much emphasis on BMI,

especially with children?

To find out more,

I visited Claire Mysko

who's dedicated her life's work

to studying and solving issues

of health, weight, and eating.

At the national

eating disorders association,

we really believe

in educating kids about health,

but to do it in a way

that focuses on health,

um, and holistically

and this idea

that kids should be fixated

on a particular number, uh,

to define their health

is incredibly problematic.

Um, so for the state to come in

and say,

"this is the measure of health

that we're going to apply,"

um, it's an inaccurate measure

of health for one thing,

um, and it's totally based

on a number, you know.

So for kids who are

already struggling

with low self-esteem,

poor body image, which she...

We know poor body image

is a huge problem

for many, many kids,

um, you know,

we find this potentially

very dangerous.

And this is the way

we ought to be doing it.

It's an important thing

for our kids.

It teaches them life lessons

and I think it's very rare.

All of us will get together

and come up

with a consensus bill

that's as good as this one

and I hope you all

will be willing to support it

because it's good stuff.

This whole conversation

is going to lead

to something very beneficial,

but I think the most

important thing

is that children

will have the knowledge.

I think we've done

good work here today

for the citizens of Ohio

and for the children of Ohio.

I am all for educating

kids about health,

but let's do it in a way

that makes sense,

that is not fear-based,

that is not going to lead

to shaming and bullying.

Um, it's so critical

that our government

actually develops policies

that are based

on good information.

Yes, I'm going to vote

for this bill,

but what I would like to say

is as we look at the obesity

problem in the future,

let's bring some

professionals in

who've spent their lives

in the research in this area

to give us some advice.

Thank you.

It's incredibly frustrating

that these decisions

are being made

at a government level,

um, without any input

from experts

who actually have

the knowledge, um,

and who are saying again,

and again, and again

that BMI is not an accurate

measure of health.

The question is,

shall the title be agreed to?

Representative Kearney

moves to amend the title.

If you wish to add

your name to the title,

please do so at this time.

Without objection,

the title would be agreed to.

Hearing no objection,

the title is agreed to.

So with everyone

that I interview,

I'm doing my own BMI test.

And so I ask them,

"would you like

to get on the scale?"

I have my scale right here.

Would you be willing

to participate

in my BMI test?

You know what,

I would not be willing

to participate in your BMI test

and I'll tell you why.

Uh-hmm.

I haven't known my weight

in, hmm,

probably close to 20 years now.

And not knowing my weight

has been one of the healthiest

things for me,

um, because at a certain

point in my life,

I was obsessed with this number

and it made me very sick

and very unhappy.

And to be able to live my life

and feel healthy,

I go to the doctor, you know,

I get all the tests

that I need to get done,

um, you know, I am not...

I don't live in fear

of this number,

but not knowing it

has made me

a much happier person.

Well, if not knowing your weight

could make you a happier person,

then our lawmakers are making

a lot of kids miserable.

So I decided to reach out

to the main sponsor

of the fat letter law

in my state.

Senator Kearney's office,

this is Emily.

Hi, this is Bailey Webber.

Um, I emailed senator Kearney

a few weeks ago

and I'm trying

to schedule an interview

and I didn't get a response,

so I'm calling again to see

if I could schedule

an interview possibly today.

Um, one second, please?

Okay.

Because his schedule right now,

uh, we wouldn't be able

to do a live interview.

But if you wanted

to email the questions,

we can get the responses

back to you.

That won't really work

because I'm doing

a video project,

so I'll need to interview him

for a video.

His schedule is really busy.

We're not thinking that

it's gonna be a possibility

to do any

sort of live interview.

I can't explain

what happened to me next.

But the more she refused

to Grant me an interview,

the more determined

I was to get it.

Um, do you think that there's

any other time available,

maybe in a few weeks?

I don't have to have it,

like, immediately.

No, I'm sorry.

He's not available.

So, does senator Kearney

not do video interviews?

He does when it fits

into his schedule.

Maybe, um, will his schedule

open up in a few weeks?

I can't give you

a definitive answer.

I'm not really sure, so...

Um, I can do...

Not even just in a few weeks.

I can do in a few months even.

Would that work?

Um, not at this moment, no.

She just kept on saying,

"schedule, schedule, schedule."

And I said... I'm like,

"everything is open with me.

"My principal is okay with it.

"I can leave school.

"Um, I close to Cincinnati,

Columbus, and Dayton.

"I can... i can drive there

anytime, anywhere

even in a few months."

And she kept on going

back to the schedule,

and then she got around...

She's saying that he doesn't

represent me.

I'm afraid he doesn't

represent you directly.

- Oh, okay.

- So...

And I was confused by that

because it's like,

"wait, he doesn't represent me.

"He passed a law

that represented

me and my friends."

I'm starting to think

that it's not about,

um, scheduling.

It's more about this topic

and maybe senator Kearney

doesn't wanna talk

to someone like me

about this.

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