“If we could have but one generation of properly born, trained, educated, and healthy children, a thousand other problems of government would vanish.” President Herbert Hoover, Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States. President Hover reveals that healthy and well-educated children are the key to a successful future of our nation which many U.S. citizens agree with. The children of today will become tomorrow’s politicians, community leaders, and voters. Their physical and mental health will greatly affect the choices that they make in the future, for better or worse. That is why all citizens of the United States need to take interest in the actions that our society takes regarding the well-being of U.S. children to ensure a successful future. One …show more content…
Dr. Ruggieri writes that “BMI screening programs…can be a really valuable resource for making parents aware of where their child’s weight health stands and for opening communication and dialogue with their children, with their children’s doctor, and making positive family health changes,” ("A Comprehensive Review of School-Based BMI Screening). While the description of BMI screenings sounds promising, there are some major flaws that make the screenings an ineffective strategy for improving the overall health of the United States. BMI calculations lack accuracy for determining the amount of fat in a child’s body, the process of notification is ineffective, and an emphasis on weight could result in negative emotional and mental issues all of which could lead to failure for the program. Before addressing these points, we will delve into an explanation of Body Mass Index, a summary of the screening process, and a brief history of BMI screening programs to provide you with a clear understanding of the