Lose Weight or Don't Graduate

By , SparkPeople Blogger
A handful of college students slated to graduate this spring may not be getting their diplomas after all. And it isn't because they did not meet their academic requirements to graduate, but because they failed to take a class to help them lose weight and get fit.

In 2006, Lincoln University, an institution just an hour's drive southwest of Philadelphia, established a new graduation requirement for the class of 2010--those entering the university with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or greater would be required to take a "Fitness for Life" class before graduation or risk not graduating. The class meets three times a week for a semester where students participate in aerobic activities, learn about nutrition and other healthy lifestyle habits.

As many of us are fully aware, we have an obesity problem in this country. But should universities and colleges initiate such drastic measures to force their students to lose weight and get healthy? Basically telling these students, lose weight or risk not graduating, even if you exceed academically.

As a parent to a senior in college, I am paying for her to get an education in academia. I am not paying for the university to deem my daughter unhealthy based on a flawed and archaic means of determining one's health and fitness--the body mass index. Studies have shown that the body mass index is not accurate for many, especially younger individuals, as the BMI cannot distinguish between fat and lean body mass. According to Michigan State University professor of kinesiology and epidemiology, Dr. Jim Pivarnik, "BMI should be used cautiously when classifying fatness, especially among college-age people.”

In all fairness, Lincoln University did make it known to their incoming freshman class three years ago that if they failed to meet the BMI guidelines and did not take the required class, their graduation could be deferred. I believe three years was more than enough time for these students to get busy and lose the weight or take the class.

However, I still wonder why an institute for higher learning is basing a student's graduation eligibility on a number that is still up for debate as to its accuracy. To use the BMI as the sole benchmark for measuring health seems a tad unfair.

My biggest question would be, why isn't this class a requirement for every student? What about the smoker who may have a normal BMI yet indulges in a very unhealthy habit? What about the underage drinker or the student who eats a high fat, high sodium diet yet still has a healthy BMI? These students are all exempted from taking the class even though their habits are just as, if not more so, unhealthy as those carrying around a few extra pounds.

When I attended college over 25 years ago, EVERY student, regardless of their degree plan, was required to take 4 hours of physical education classes, whether it was a golf, tennis, swimming or even a dance class. You had to take and pass the class to graduate. Each class counted as one credit hour with the final grade being factored into our GPA.

And this is what I feel Lincoln University is missing--they are isolating a faction of students when they should require ALL students to take the class. All students could greatly benefit by learning how to integrate healthy habits into their lives now before they get so engrossed that it becomes more difficult to change. Health cannot be measured by numbers alone, but by the choices we make and the knowledge we gain from others .

How do you feel about a university making such requirements? Would this be a bigger issue if this university was a public institution setting these standards? If the students knew the consequences of not losing weight or taking the class, do they have a still have a valid complaint with the university?