Boy Scouts ban obese kids from Jamboree
Replies
-
Ok, I have no problem with kids not being put at risk. But I am an Eagle Scout. I went to scouting events on three continents. Completed a couple of 50 milers, I taught how to build stuff like monkey bridges, and even spent a summer in the Keys as a camp counselor.
I NEVER would have met this criteria as a kid. I was heavy, but fit. BMI is not a good measure of ability.
Kids will self select. Stress what is going to take place and let them determine if they are up to the challenge. If not, then pull them to the side and don't let them do a particular activity. But only if it is a safety issue.
If any kid needs to be challenged physically it is them.
http://conscienhealth.org/2013/07/boy-scouts-ban-obesity-from-their-jamboree/
Boy Scouts Ban Obesity from Their Jamboree
At their quadrennial jamboree, the Boy Scouts banned obesity this year. Saying they designed this year’s event to be too physically demanding for boys with obesity, they published guidelines saying that no one with a BMI above 40 would be allowed to participate. Those with a BMI between 32 and 40 are subject to approval by the Jamboree Medical Staff, based on a detailed medical history. All others simply needed clearance from their physician, with a provision that those with a history of serious medical problems may be required to submit further documentation.
Speaking for the Scouts, Dan McCarthy asserted that their requirement “has motivated an enormous return in terms of both kids and adults getting serious about improving their health.” Scout spokesman Deron Smith stated that most of those who could not meet the requirements “self-selected and chose not to apply.”
Experts on obesity and physical fitness were not enthusiastic about the Scouts’ policy. Granting that the Scouts were on solid ground in protecting boys from activities that would not be medically safe, most called for activities that would fit the capabilities of boys at all levels.
The Obesity Action Coalition (OAC) issued a statement expressing strong disagreement with this exclusion because it further perpetuates weight bias against children affected by the disease of obesity.
“The BMI requirement is limiting physical activity for those needing it most and goes against the BSA’s own core value of ‘developing personal fitness.’ The opportunity to participate in the jamboree and increase one’s physical fitness should not be limited to a certain population of Scouts,” said Joe Nadglowski, OAC President and CEO.
Scott Kahan, Director of the Stop Obesity Alliance at George Washington University, commented:
Frankly, my most immediate reaction is thinking about several patients of mine who would be perfect fits for this sort of activity but would be excluded due to their weight. I hate thinking about them missing out on such an exciting opportunity, but it’s particularly heartbreaking to think about how they would feel when told that they’re too fat to participate.
I’m quite certain the exclusion wouldn’t motivate them to lose weight; rather, it would likely make them want to cower in a corner somewhere and wish they were invisible. There is a somewhat pervasive, but misguided, belief that shaming and blaming motivates people to change. It doesn’t; it just makes them feel bad and often paralyzes change. We’ve been essentially ‘making fun of the fat kid’ since time immemorial, and childhood obesity rates have only increased.
Francesca Zavacky of the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance pointed out:
PE teachers work at meeting students where they are at and improving their skills. Schools don’t exclude any children from physical education, and activities are modified to meet the developmental level of all children.
Robert Lustig, a well-known pediatric endocrinologist at UC San Francisco, was more blunt. “This is garbage,” he said. He pointed out that the thinking behind singling out kids with obesity is flawed:
One in five people with obesity are completely metabolically normal. They have no metabolic disease, will live a completely normal life, live to a completely normal age, and not cost the taxpayer anything. They’re just fat.
Conversely, up to 40% of the normal-weight population — including teens — have the same metabolic dysfunctions of obese people. They develop Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, arthritis and depression just as many obese people do. And they get to go to the Jamboree. That’s just not fair.
We’ve made considerable progress promoting fun physical activity for people of all abilities. Marginalizing children with limitations doesn’t help, it hurts.
Boy Scouts count respect among their twelve core values. It’s time to live up to it.
I agree with your opinion, but maybe they're looking out for kids' safety in that sense? My brother is there right now and I know it's a strenuous event. I feel that it's insanely taxing even for underweight/"healthy"/overweight scouts (as labeled by the BMI scale), almost as much as one of those Philmont treks or Boundary Waters.
Not to say that obese kids shouldn't be allowed, but maybe they're trying to prevent health hazards for obese children due to the extreme heat and intense activity of the BSA Jamboree? That's just my personal perspective, however.0 -
Just to play devil's advocate, it is quite possible this has nothing to do with obesity so much as fear of litigation. Fat kid breaks his leg, parents sue boy scouts for negligence.
Now, someone gets hurts and parents try to sue, they have a better case to show a prudent measures were taken. Everyone sues everyone now a days, and especially those with deep pockets. So they have to protect themselves from liability.
Skinny people can break bones too.
Agreed. But a lawyer can make a better case for an obese one, saying it was not safe for someone overweight to be playing. To add to that even if a skinny kid breaks a leg or whatever, the fact that they took steps is now part of their defense.
A lawyer for a skinny kid can make a case that the effort was misguided and used poor metrics. BMI does not measure athletic ability or fitness level it (supposedly) measures body fat or body proportionality. Therefore, the metric used is completely worthless in terms of preventing liability.
BSA could prevent liability by claiming that it requires all kids to receive clearance from their primary care physician who presumably knows the kid's fitness and health status better than anyone else. If the kid's doctor clears him, no additional clearance is necessary. I don't see how this does anything to prevent lawsuits.
From a cost benefit perspective, I just don't see how this is a cost-effective means of limiting liability and costs. How many kids were likely to get hurt versus how many kids are likely to 1) sue for discrimination under this policy, 2) withdraw from BSA and contribute no more reveune to the organization, or 3) be upset and find other ways to cost the organization money through his actions?0 -
They should do a fitness test, or if that is too much at least do it by body fat percentage because some skinny kids are naturally thin but totally out of shape and might have a really high body fat percentage making it more dangerous for them to attempt these tasks than the kids that weigh more but are in good shape.0
-
This is another example of well meaning, but uninformed, people doing more harm than good. If the physical challenges are really that challenging then the only reasonable way to make the determination is to require a physical fitness evaluation. BMI is going to cut out some very fit but muscular kids. That said, I don't think excluding kids from the entire event makes any sense whatsoever.
I completely agree! Not sure if banning these kids will make them actually want to lose weight if they are overweight, or just discourage them more. I can understand the worry about taxing the heart but like someone else mentioned, there are many "slender" people who are in horrible cardiovascular health. I walked recently with a girl who is in excellent shape by just looking at her but was much more out of breath than me and she is 10 years younger. She does not work out at all and even mentioned that just because she is thin doesn't mean she is healthy. I think a physical fitness evaluation as you mention, would have been wiser!0 -
How big would a kid have to be to have a BMI over 40?
morbidly obese. Like dangerously overweight.
Most of the time, true. But a blanket ban just on attending?
In 1987 I weighed 280 pounds at 5"10". I played football and wrestled. I ran 4 miles every day before practice and went on to walk on to division 1 college football team. That summer before my senior year, I went to a High Adventure camp and backpacked 50 miles in the N.C. mountains.
Based on those numbers, my BMI was 41.5. I would have been banned from a freaking jamboree.
I definitely needed to lose some weight, but it in no way hindered me from participating and usually performing above average.
Apples don't look or taste like oranges bro. You are comparing an adult athlete to a boy scout kid. Kids in boyscouts aren't built like athletes, they are built like kids.
That was when I was 17. I was the senior patrol leader for my troop. bro.
didn't even realize you could be in scouts that late. Thought it ended at like 12.
Well there are many things in life you are ignorant of...
Thanks.0 -
This isn't excluding "fat" kids. A BMI of 40 is morbidly obese. So yes, their hearts actually could explode out of their chest. For a boy scout age kid to have a BMI of 40 they would basically have to be as big around as they are tall or even bigger. It's probably dangerous for them to do the activity.
How many obese children have heart attacks? Im genuinely curious - i didn't know there was an epidemic of morbidly obese children having their chests explode.
One of the risk factors for morbidly obese children is left ventricular hypertrophy which can result in sudden cardiac arrest.
Abstract
Obesity has become an increasingly important medical problem in children and adolescents. In national surveys from the 1960s to the 1990s, the prevalence of overweight in children grew from 5% to 11%. Outcomes related to childhood obesity include hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, left ventricular hypertrophy, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, obstructive sleep apnea, orthopedic problems, and psychosocial problems. Once considered rare, primary hypertension in children has become increasingly common in association with obesity and other risk factors, including a family history of hypertension and an ethnic predisposition to hypertensive disease. Obese children are at approximately a 3-fold higher risk for hypertension than nonobese children. In addition, the risk of hypertension in children increases across the entire range of body mass index (BMI) values and is not defined by a simple threshold effect. As in adults, a combination of factors including overactivity of the sympathetic nervous system (SNS), insulin resistance, and abnormalities in vascular structure and function may contribute to obesity-related hypertension in children. The benefits of weight loss for blood pressure reduction in children have been demonstrated in both observational and interventional studies. Obesity in childhood should be considered a chronic medical condition that is likely to require long-term management. Ultimately, prevention of obesity and its complications, including hypertension, is the goal.
http://hyper.ahajournals.org/content/40/4/441.short
Complications
Left ventricular hypertrophy changes both the structure and function of the chamber:
The enlarged muscle loses elasticity and stiffens, preventing the chamber from filling properly and leading to increased pressure in the heart.
The enlarged muscle tissue compresses its own blood vessels (coronary arteries) and may restrict its own supply of blood.
The overworked muscle weakens.
Complications that can occur as a result of these problems include:
Inability of your heart to pump enough blood to your body (heart failure)
Abnormal heart rhythm (arrhythmia)
Insufficient supply of oxygen to the heart (ischemic heart disease)
Interruption of blood supply to the heart (heart attack)
Sudden, unexpected loss of heart function, breathing and consciousness (sudden cardiac arrest)
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/left-ventricular-hypertrophy/DS00680/METHOD=print&DSECTION=all0 -
another reason to add to the list of why the boy scouts of america is an absolutely worthless **** organization now.
^^^^^THIS!!! (x 10)0 -
How big would a kid have to be to have a BMI over 40?
morbidly obese. Like dangerously overweight.
Most of the time, true. But a blanket ban just on attending?
In 1987 I weighed 280 pounds at 5"10". I played football and wrestled. I ran 4 miles every day before practice and went on to walk on to division 1 college football team. That summer before my senior year, I went to a High Adventure camp and backpacked 50 miles in the N.C. mountains.
Based on those numbers, my BMI was 41.5. I would have been banned from a freaking jamboree.
I definitely needed to lose some weight, but it in no way hindered me from participating and usually performing above average.
Apples don't look or taste like oranges bro. You are comparing an adult athlete to a boy scout kid. Kids in boyscouts aren't built like athletes, they are built like kids.
That was when I was 17. I was the senior patrol leader for my troop. bro.
didn't even realize you could be in scouts that late. Thought it ended at like 12.
You should probably do your research before you start running you mouth, bro0 -
I think this is really sad, honestly....
Yep, it is.
I hope this decision is driven by insurance liability issues rather than anything else...
It is. They started with adults a few years ago in high adventure bases. They were having too many people dropping from MIs and such, and the insurance rates were getting higher to the point of exclusion. The choice was to limit the risk, or close the bases.
This year is the first Jamboree to be held at a new high-adventure base, and so they had to follow the rules. In the past, Jamborees have been held at Army bases such as Fort AP Hill. This new base (Bechtel Summit) in West Virginia, is a bit more rugged than any other place they have ever had the Jamboree.
I have been excluded for a number of years, and this is the first year I would have been allowed to go to a high-adventure base owned by the BSA.
You are correct, BMI is a horrible way to gauge this, but there is an option on the health form for the scout or scouter's physiciian to authorize exceeding the limits set by BSA if they feel the patient is fit. However, there is still a maximum allowance of weight for a give n height for that as well.
Also, as a side-note, to whoever said anything about not buying popcorn... that won't make an impact on anything BSA does nationally. The popcorn money pretty much stays local. 30% goes to the boy who sells it (or his troop depending upon the troops policy), 40% goes to the local council, and about 30% goes to the manufacturer.0 -
Why doesn't the Boy Scouts just STFU already. They are starting to sound like Hitler. I know, I know oversimplified but I couldn't think of a kind way to say that they seem to be trying to narrow their view of who is acceptable more and more lately and are creating a hugely negative image for themselves that calls to mind a horrible historic figure from the past who did the same thing and it led to some real vile problems. Oh wait I guess I just said it. Ok so yeah ^that. Forget the first part. It may come across as inflammatory and may make me sound like a buffoon. So just scratch that. But yeah, why don't they just stick to tying knots and camping and be done with it. Who do they think they are? You don't see the girls scouts doing all this controversial ish? They just keep selling those yum cookies and in fact keep coming out with better and better ones. Maybe it's time they invited some girl scouts to their meetings to show them how PR is done?0
-
Oh, Boy Scouts.
No gays No fatties!
What next?0 -
This isn't excluding "fat" kids. A BMI of 40 is morbidly obese. So yes, their hearts actually could explode out of their chest. For a boy scout age kid to have a BMI of 40 they would basically have to be as big around as they are tall or even bigger. It's probably dangerous for them to do the activity.
How many obese children have heart attacks? Im genuinely curious - i didn't know there was an epidemic of morbidly obese children having their chests explode.
Not sure it's an "epidemic" but with the huge increase in childhood obesity comes a huge increase in the risk.0 -
This isn't excluding "fat" kids. A BMI of 40 is morbidly obese. So yes, their hearts actually could explode out of their chest. For a boy scout age kid to have a BMI of 40 they would basically have to be as big around as they are tall or even bigger. It's probably dangerous for them to do the activity.
How many obese children have heart attacks? Im genuinely curious - i didn't know there was an epidemic of morbidly obese children having their chests explode.
Not sure it's an "epidemic" but with the huge increase in childhood obesity comes a huge increase in the risk.
See my reference post above.0 -
Ok, I have no problem with kids not being put at risk. But I am an Eagle Scout. I went to scouting events on three continents. Completed a couple of 50 milers, I taught how to build stuff like monkey bridges, and even spent a summer in the Keys as a camp counselor.
I NEVER would have met this criteria as a kid. I was heavy, but fit. BMI is not a good measure of ability.
Kids will self select. Stress what is going to take place and let them determine if they are up to the challenge. If not, then pull them to the side and don't let them do a particular activity. But only if it is a safety issue.
If any kid needs to be challenged physically it is them.
http://conscienhealth.org/2013/07/boy-scouts-ban-obesity-from-their-jamboree/
Boy Scouts Ban Obesity from Their Jamboree
At their quadrennial jamboree, the Boy Scouts banned obesity this year. Saying they designed this year’s event to be too physically demanding for boys with obesity, they published guidelines saying that no one with a BMI above 40 would be allowed to participate. Those with a BMI between 32 and 40 are subject to approval by the Jamboree Medical Staff, based on a detailed medical history. All others simply needed clearance from their physician, with a provision that those with a history of serious medical problems may be required to submit further documentation.
Speaking for the Scouts, Dan McCarthy asserted that their requirement “has motivated an enormous return in terms of both kids and adults getting serious about improving their health.” Scout spokesman Deron Smith stated that most of those who could not meet the requirements “self-selected and chose not to apply.”
Experts on obesity and physical fitness were not enthusiastic about the Scouts’ policy. Granting that the Scouts were on solid ground in protecting boys from activities that would not be medically safe, most called for activities that would fit the capabilities of boys at all levels.
The Obesity Action Coalition (OAC) issued a statement expressing strong disagreement with this exclusion because it further perpetuates weight bias against children affected by the disease of obesity.
“The BMI requirement is limiting physical activity for those needing it most and goes against the BSA’s own core value of ‘developing personal fitness.’ The opportunity to participate in the jamboree and increase one’s physical fitness should not be limited to a certain population of Scouts,” said Joe Nadglowski, OAC President and CEO.
Scott Kahan, Director of the Stop Obesity Alliance at George Washington University, commented:
Frankly, my most immediate reaction is thinking about several patients of mine who would be perfect fits for this sort of activity but would be excluded due to their weight. I hate thinking about them missing out on such an exciting opportunity, but it’s particularly heartbreaking to think about how they would feel when told that they’re too fat to participate.
I’m quite certain the exclusion wouldn’t motivate them to lose weight; rather, it would likely make them want to cower in a corner somewhere and wish they were invisible. There is a somewhat pervasive, but misguided, belief that shaming and blaming motivates people to change. It doesn’t; it just makes them feel bad and often paralyzes change. We’ve been essentially ‘making fun of the fat kid’ since time immemorial, and childhood obesity rates have only increased.
Francesca Zavacky of the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance pointed out:
PE teachers work at meeting students where they are at and improving their skills. Schools don’t exclude any children from physical education, and activities are modified to meet the developmental level of all children.
Robert Lustig, a well-known pediatric endocrinologist at UC San Francisco, was more blunt. “This is garbage,” he said. He pointed out that the thinking behind singling out kids with obesity is flawed:
One in five people with obesity are completely metabolically normal. They have no metabolic disease, will live a completely normal life, live to a completely normal age, and not cost the taxpayer anything. They’re just fat.
Conversely, up to 40% of the normal-weight population — including teens — have the same metabolic dysfunctions of obese people. They develop Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, arthritis and depression just as many obese people do. And they get to go to the Jamboree. That’s just not fair.
We’ve made considerable progress promoting fun physical activity for people of all abilities. Marginalizing children with limitations doesn’t help, it hurts.
Boy Scouts count respect among their twelve core values. It’s time to live up to it.
I agree with your opinion, but maybe they're looking out for kids' safety in that sense? My brother is there right now and I know it's a strenuous event. I feel that it's insanely taxing even for underweight/"healthy"/overweight scouts (as labeled by the BMI scale), almost as much as one of those Philmont treks or Boundary Waters.
Not to say that obese kids shouldn't be allowed, but maybe they're trying to prevent health hazards for obese children due to the extreme heat and intense activity of the BSA Jamboree? That's just my personal perspective, however.
Nope, everyone is supposed to be equal in America. Let the morbidly obese kids do it too that way their parents can complain and sue when they either can't complete the activity and get embarrased or actually get hurt.0 -
Why doesn't the Boy Scouts just STFU already. They are starting to sound like Hitler. I know, I know oversimplified but I couldn't think of a kind way to say that they seem to be trying to narrow their view of who is acceptable more and more lately and are creating a hugely negative image for themselves that calls to mind a horrible historic figure from the past who did the same thing and it led to some real vile problems. Oh wait I guess I just said it. Ok so yeah ^that. Forget the first part. It may come across as inflammatory and may make me sound like a buffoon. So just scratch that. But yeah, why don't they just stick to tying knots and camping and be done with it. Who do they think they are? You don't see the girls scouts doing all this controversial ish? They just keep selling those yum cookies and in fact keep coming out with better and better ones. Maybe it's time they invited some girl scouts to their meetings to show them how PR is done?
Unfortunately I agree with you. The national organization is a pain in the *kitten*, but I have seen it do too much good for kids at the local level to write them off totally.0 -
Nope, everyone is supposed to be equal in America. Let the morbidly obese kids do it too that way their parents can complain and sue when they either can't complete the activity and get embarrased or actually get hurt.
There was a diplomatic way around this that didn't have to exclude or shame the children, but rather, encourage them to better themselves.
Positive reinforcement is a very productive way to motivate people and address issues as a society.0 -
How big would a kid have to be to have a BMI over 40?
morbidly obese. Like dangerously overweight.
Most of the time, true. But a blanket ban just on attending?
In 1987 I weighed 280 pounds at 5"10". I played football and wrestled. I ran 4 miles every day before practice and went on to walk on to division 1 college football team. That summer before my senior year, I went to a High Adventure camp and backpacked 50 miles in the N.C. mountains.
Based on those numbers, my BMI was 41.5. I would have been banned from a freaking jamboree.
I definitely needed to lose some weight, but it in no way hindered me from participating and usually performing above average.
Apples don't look or taste like oranges bro. You are comparing an adult athlete to a boy scout kid. Kids in boyscouts aren't built like athletes, they are built like kids.
That was when I was 17. I was the senior patrol leader for my troop. bro.
didn't even realize you could be in scouts that late. Thought it ended at like 12.
You should probably do your research before you start running you mouth, bro
already stated that I was mis informed on cub scouts vs boy scouts. Still, aren't many 17 year olds with 40 BMI that are body builders instead of just fat.
Do the letters F off mean anything to you?
Aren't you delightful?
Bro.0 -
I checked on this, a BMI over 40 puts you in the "morbidly obese" category or 100 lbs or more over your ideal weight range.0
-
bmi 40 on a kid is pretty damn high...
is it weird that i'm more upset that there are kids this heavy than that there are places they can't go? it's so heavy, it seems very unlikely a kid could have enough muscle to make that anything other than frighteningly overweight. nobody just wakes up that big. what's going so wrong that the family/doctors/school haven't been able to stop things getting that bad?0 -
What the heck? The BSA's mission should be to help develop boys into good men, with good male role models. Not throw out the ones that don't make the cut.
If they are banning anyone, they should ban the morbidly obese adults, not the kids.
Looking back, all my troop masters as a kid were obese. They seemed to be able to contribute, somehow.
Nobody is being banned from the BSA. I have morbidly obese kids in my troop. If you read the article, it says they are banned from high-adventure events. This is also only on properties owned by the BSA. If a troop wishes to plan and carry out a high-adventure trip off of BSA owned property, the kids can still participate. It's strictly a liability issue for the BSA.0 -
How big would a kid have to be to have a BMI over 40?
huge! There is really a relatively small number of boys excluded based on BMI. There is a much larger number of adults that are excluded by these standards.0 -
Nope, everyone is supposed to be equal in America. Let the morbidly obese kids do it too that way their parents can complain and sue when they either can't complete the activity and get embarrased or actually get hurt.
There was a diplomatic way around this that didn't have to exclude or shame the children, but rather, encourage them to better themselves.
Positive reinforcement is a very productive way to motivate people and address issues as a society.
I will answer this with a PM that I got from another logically thinking MFP member. I won't name who sent it but they are 100% spot on.The 2nd and 3rd part are what I agree with most.
"Folks on this one are thinking with their emotions and not their heads. I agree with you 100%. These kids are at "Much" greater risk of injury or other life threatening conditions.
Also, no one here is recommending that the parents should be held accountable for the health of the kids. The BSA isn't there to fix kids health problem anymore than teachers are there to fix behavior problems...accountability.
And, it's not like the BSA has unlimited resources to create 10 different programs accommodating 10 different fitness levels. You can't punish the 75% who can do an activity by making lesser activities.
I just wanted to thank you for your opinion and share a bit of mine. "0 -
I have a love/hate relationship with the BSA. I have 2 boys in Scouting, both started at the Tiger level so 9 years of Scouting under our belts to date. On the local level I have nothing but kudos for our troop leadership. They challenge, teach, and make our boys aware of themselves, what they can accomplish, and the world they live in. They have learned leadership skills, teamwork, respect, how to be charitable, and had a ton of fun over the years.
However on the National level they make my blood boil! Yay [small clapping sound] gay scouts can still be scouts but after you've run through the program and maybe even achieved Eagle Scout status you are no longer allowed to be a part of the organization. Your journey and leadership skills learned in the BSA are not welcome to be passed on and teach to up and coming Scouts. All because your "gayness" might wear off on them. BULL****! The issue with BMI falling within certain parameters is yet another failing of the BSA.
I have just filled out the required camp health forms for my boys and did notice there is a big emphasis on BMI and if your child meets the requirements or not. Of my 2 sons one does struggle with weight issues. He makes the cut but for how long? He's 12yrs old, weighs 169lbs, is 5' 2", with a BMI of 30. Of course we are working with his pediatrician to make him healthier (and don't think I don't have guilt for letting him get that heavy, I do) but you have to walk a fine line with a child this young in terms of weight loss and how you approach it. For the BSA to mandate a limit on participation based on BMI is ludicrous! Only a boys doctor should be the one to say whether that child is capable of the activity (just like in school sports). And summer camp and jamboree are nothing like the high adventure base camps. All scouts should have the ability to participate either full on or self modified to their fitness level. My heavier son fully participates in each (he is too young for high adventure base camp). I would give the exception to the high adventure camps as they are very rigorous but that does not mean a "fat kid" is not capable of the experience. I don't think they should alter their programs but they should let the child (with doctors approval) attempt to meet the challenges set before them at the various camps.
So Boo on you BSA. You are creating the exact opposite environment that your Boy Scout Laws purport. Scouting is about the boys & the experience not about the political climate and judgements against people. Sorry, long rant. [slowly slides soapbox back under bed].0 -
Unfortuntely, the parents of obese children have no recourse with the law because of this rule. It isn't considered discrimination to keep an obese child from participating in an event. Obesity is not covered under discrimination laws. The BSA has every right to do what they did.
Do I think it is fair. No. Absolutely not. This is an event that should have something for everyone based on their abilities. Just out of curiosity, what is the BSA's policy concerning children with disabilities. Are they permitted to be part of BSA and if so, are they eligible to go to the jamboree. If so, there have to be activities designed for them.0 -
Nope, everyone is supposed to be equal in America. Let the morbidly obese kids do it too that way their parents can complain and sue when they either can't complete the activity and get embarrased or actually get hurt.
There was a diplomatic way around this that didn't have to exclude or shame the children, but rather, encourage them to better themselves.
Positive reinforcement is a very productive way to motivate people and address issues as a society.
QTF and
0 -
This is so sad. Banning the very kids who may already be ostracized by their peers and struggling with life's challenges. I agree with the responder who asked if the head office Boy Scout admin and the leaders have to meet the same criterion. One of my best friends in high school ( early 70s) weighed around 300+ pounds in high school (not muscle) and he went to Boy Scout camp at Fairmont. He went on to become an Eagle Scout if my memory serves me correctly. It was a very formative part of his life and he recently spoke about it on FB nearly 40 years later. For him not to have been given this opportunity would have impacted his life negatively. Why not have an easier course for those who are limited physically. I was thinking who tiny and skinny I was in high school and know that I would have been as unlikely to be successful at this camp as anyone who is obese. Thin does not equate to physically fit or able.0
-
I know a lot of people are upset by this article. I see it as a reality check. If there are really enough kids/adults involved with the BSA that are morbidly obese to prompt this extreme of a policy, it proves there is an obesity epidemic in the US. Like we didn't already know this. I do feel sorry for the people the BMI doesn't work for, but I would hope that with common sense and doctor's approvals proper exceptions were made. My boyfriend is quite tall and was a little chubby in high school, but he was definitely not obese. The BMI works best for median height people.
But, lets be honest with ourselves, kids should not be carrying around 100 lbs or more of extra weight. Let this be a wake up call America. I mean aren't we all on this site because we want to be healthier people? It might be an unpopular opinion, but I think society does need to call people out who blatantly live unhealthy lifestyles. We do with smoking, drinking, and sex. So why not eating and exercising? What saddens me the most is parents who allow their young children to become so terribly unhealthy. That is not right. That is what people should be outraged about.0 -
I think giving them 2 years to meet requirements was quite diplomatic.0
-
If they were really concerned about the health of the kids, wouldn't they add more activities that all can enjoy so the kids are actually getting out and BEING active?
What a messed up organization..
I completely agree. If they want to help improve the kids' health, then design activities that they can do and get some exercise.
That will generally happen at the local level. Troops can opt for doing physical activities. The program at the troop level is designed, planned and executed by the boys themselves. The activities a troop participates in varies greatly rfom troop to troop. In my troop, the boys like to do physically active things. We hike, we climb, we canoe and this weekend we will be kayaking on the MIssissippi. Every meeting we have some physically active game. Our next meeting we wil be having a picnic dinner at a local park and will be playing ultimate, kickball, gaga pit, and soccer for 3.5 hours.
I know of a troop that is just down the road from us, that does nothing physical. They will have fun nights where the boys sit and play video games all night. They have lock-ins vs. campouts. The kids rarely if ever do anything physical. When they go to summer camp for 1 week, the kids have trouble walking from one end of the camp to the other. They can't take the high temps, and humidity, and seem more susceptible to heat stress from small exertions.
Jamboree is not a longer summer camp. There are activities such as white water rafting, miles of zip lines through the tree canopy, rock climbing, scuba diving. It is designed to give scouts a sampling of bigger and better things than you can get at a local summer camp. When I think about taking a scout who may be pretty inert most of the year, and dropping him or her into a 5 mile long zip line course, I would have my doubts if that is the best way to start them off in physical activity. I'm not surprised that the insurance companies raise their premiums with the litigation happy public, and the sedentary lifestyle some of these boys lead.0 -
This is the most backwards thing i have EVER seen ive seen 400 pound people push their limit beyond a friggin jamboree your telling me that they are saying "oh we wanna inspire physical fitness BUT! Your too fat to participate so sorry." Thats awful, that sends the complete opposite message, way to make kids think they are too fat to be fit or push themselves sad sad sad not to mention stupid stupid stupid.0
Categories
- All Categories
- 1.4M Health, Wellness and Goals
- 393.4K Introduce Yourself
- 43.8K Getting Started
- 260.2K Health and Weight Loss
- 175.9K Food and Nutrition
- 47.4K Recipes
- 232.5K Fitness and Exercise
- 424 Sleep, Mindfulness and Overall Wellness
- 6.5K Goal: Maintaining Weight
- 8.5K Goal: Gaining Weight and Body Building
- 153K Motivation and Support
- 8K Challenges
- 1.3K Debate Club
- 96.3K Chit-Chat
- 2.5K Fun and Games
- 3.7K MyFitnessPal Information
- 24 News and Announcements
- 1.1K Feature Suggestions and Ideas
- 2.6K MyFitnessPal Tech Support Questions