Nov
30

Too Fat To Graduate?

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So it seems the discrimination card has been drawn again in the name of health and obesity. A college university in Pennsylvania has decided to do something about the overtly-apparent obesity problem we have in the United States.

“Students at Lincoln University with a body mass index of 30 or above, reflective of obesity, must take a fitness course that meets three hours per week. Those who are assigned to the class but do not complete it cannot graduate.”

So now it comes down to paying for a degree, then IF you so happen to be ‘overweight’, you cannot get your degree you are paying for –unless you enroll in the required fitness class.

  • Discrimination maybe?
  • A bold move to improve the state of our population you say?

I for one think it’s awesome, but it could be modified a bit. I love the idea and the precipice behind it, but it seems that it only applies to the students that ‘flag’ for obesity? A student at the university is speaking out on this:

“One of those students is Tiana Lawson, 21, whose recent editorial in the student paper has drawn national attention to the issue. Lawson wrote in The Lincolnian that she would be more understanding if the requirement applied to everyone. She thinks all students, not just those with a high BMI, should have to take the class.”

I agree 100%. If you want to make the difference – make it a blanket requirement. That way there is no possibility of it being misconstrued as discrimination. I can understand the university’s thinking behind their intention – but why not make it universal?

I also think this is a GREAT idea at its core. What better way to make a difference in the lives of our young adults by challenging them to think more about their health when they need it the most – before it’s too late. How can you argue with improving your health?

Obesity is a huge problem. So huge that it’s draining our economy, milking our health insurance and robbing families by cutting lives short. How can this endeavor by this university be so wrong?

*UPDATE* – Seems the university in question has dropped the new rule. Read it here: College drops required fitness class for obese

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Posted by Sean health, opinion Subscribe to RSS feed
  • Sean, did you see that other story in the news a few weeks back about a family, I think it was in Pennsylvania, sued a local school disctrict because they only had phys-ed twice a week, and their diabetic kid needed more regular exercise to help manage his blood sugars. I felt that ALL of the kids need activity every day-little kids, particularly boys, really need that gross motor movement for physical and mental health.

    I agree that maybe this should be a requirement for all kids at this college, particularly given how out of shape younger people are nowadays.
  • Steve,
    That was my point. It's a problem that we need to address - and maybe with some extreme measures to get our point across. :)
  • pinkyrn
    I think that sucks. I am fortunately a thin person. Do you really think this is going to help cause I don't. I think fat folks have a real problem that sucking it up is not going to help. I think fat folks already feel bad enough without stigmatizing them. If someone chooses to exercise and eat right that is great, but forcing someone is really not nice at all. I don't think it will help. And I don't actually think it is legal.
  • I have a hard time feeling bad about an action that does nothing but improve someone's health and well being - regardless if it's borderline discriminatory. IMHO
  • pinkyrn
    Sean think of it. Would you want to be fat if you had a choice? I know I
    would not want to be. I think it might be a mental illness. I must remind
    you that I am a thin girl but that is not of my doing. I have a great
    metabolism but when I was a young girl I was chubby and could do nothing
    about it. So I am the fortunate few who are thin. So are you. Fortuately
    when I grew older I got thinner and better looking.but one of my cousins
    still struggles with her weight. Sean what if they were discriminating
    against you? It is just not OK. If you and I decide to work out and eat
    well, well good for us. We cannot force others to do what we think is best.
    Don't you see? That is what makes America free. We are free to choose! And
    that is what is important.
  • Dear, you motivated me to post an entire blog post about this. Thank you! :)
  • I like the idea but, not just at the university level. I think it should be across the board in all schools. When I go to eat lunch with my children who are in elementary school at least 1/3 of the kids in the lunchroom are obese. They have gym time but not like we did when we were kids. Why not make excercise a part of the routine. That's the only way I would do it..lol
  • I think the Spartans had the right idea.
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