In an effort to increase awareness of the problem of childhood obesity, the Tennessee legislature passed a law requiring the printing of student’s BMI scores on their report cards. Using an ethical analysis framework, please discuss what you believe the motivations of the legislators were and why health and education officials and advocates had concerns about their actions.
Tennessee legislature passed a law allowing the schools to send report cards on BMI of students with the aim to identify students with risk of obesity and make parents aware about the situation and seek medical attention. The aim was also to incooperate lifestyle changes in these students.
But this law became a subject of controversy and many opposed and criticized law on following grounds:
1. Such a practice will raise stigma against overweight.
2. Increase negativite environment regarding body appearance
3. Encourage embarassment and sense of inferiority among students regarding body weight.
4. Threats students privacy regarding weight
5. Promotes unhealthy dieting among students.
6. Promotes negative attitudes about weight.
7. Increases the risk of bullying by oyher students
8. Increases peer pressure
9. Lack of medical advice can lead to wrong interpretations and wrong practices like use of diet pills.
10. The results of such a practice are unclear. No interpretations could be made about the parents awareness, practice of healthy food practice and seeking of medical advice.
In an effort to increase awareness of the problem of childhood obesity, the Tennessee legislature passed...