At Lincoln University BMI trumps academics
Well, this is one for the record books, and I don't mean the good record books. Starting in 2006, freshmen at Lincoln University in Pensylvania (United States) were required to have their BMI tested by the university. If it was 30 or over, they had to take an extra class, called "Fitness for Life," which "involves walking, aerobics, weight training and other physical activities, as well as information on nutrition, stress and sleep" according to the chair of the University's department of health, physical education and recreation.
Why are they doing this? Because we're "in the midst of an obesity epidemic." Personally, I favor sending chair James L. DeBoy a copy of the book "The Obesity Myth," which is a pretty good book about our current hysteria. A link or two to the fact that the BMI is junk science wouldn't hurt, either.
Now, plenty of colleges require students to take a physical fitness type course to graduate. I had to take one to get my AA from Iowa Western Community Collge. (I opted for weight training, which, after being shown how to use the equptment, you could do whenever the weight room was free.) Why not have all students take Fitness for Life? Why shame people? Why involve junk science? What the hell was the thinking here, people? Did they want to earn a little extra money from some of their students? (I imagine there is a tuition cost involved, I didn't have much luck with the university's site.)
I don't have a problem with a college or university encouraging fitness. I have a problem with them linking weight to fitness and I have a problem with them engaging in obesity hysteria. Well, all right, I have a small problem with health/fitness requirements at schools because forcing people to do things is not the best way to get them to take said things to heart. Encouraging people to engage in physical activity would be far better than forcing them to do it. However, forcing some people to do it based on junk science is just flat out terrible and a very, very bad idea.
Shame on you, Lincoln University.