Mandatory fitness class to receive degrees!

PHILADELPHIA — A Pennsylvania university's requirement that overweight undergraduates take a fitness course to receive their degrees has raised the hackles of students and the eyebrows of health and legal experts.

Officials at historically black Lincoln University said Friday that the school is simply concerned about high rates of obesity and diabetes, especially in the African-American community.

"We know we're in the midst of an obesity epidemic," said James L. DeBoy, chairman of Lincoln's department of health, physical education and recreation. "We have an obligation to address this head on, knowing full well there's going to be some fallout."

The fallout began this week on Lincoln's campus about 45 miles southwest of Philadelphia, where seniors — the first class affected by the mandate — began realizing their last chance to take the class would be this spring.

Tiana Lawson, a 21-year-old senior, wrote in this week's edition of The Lincolnian, the student newspaper, that she "didn't come to Lincoln to be told that my weight is not in an acceptable range. I came here to get an education."

In an interview Friday, Lawson said she has no problem with getting healthy or losing weight. But she does have a problem with larger students being singled out.

"If Lincoln truly is concerned about everyone being healthy, then everyone should have to take this gym class, not just people who happen to be bigger," she said.

The mandate, which took effect for freshmen entering in fall 2006, requires students to get tested for their body mass index, a measure of weight to height.

A normal BMI is between 18.5 and 24.9. Students with one that's 30 or above — considered obese — are required to take a class called "Fitness for Life," which meets three hours a week.

The course involves walking, aerobics, weight training and other physical activities, as well as information on nutrition, stress and sleep, DeBoy said.

As of this fall, DeBoy estimated about 80 seniors — 16 percent of the class — had not had their body mass index tested nor taken the fitness class. Some of those students will likely be exempt from taking the class once they get their BMI results, he said.

Health experts applaud the school's intent, if not its execution. Mark Rothstein, director of the bioethics institute at the University of Louisville's School of Medicine, said being forced to disclose such health information is "at least awkward and often distasteful

I think this is horrible and I hope they sue (and win). Like the article states - good intentions but poor execution!

I dunno. I ABSOLUTELY understand the poor execution side of the argument and technically, they're right.

Conversely, people are a bunch of pussies now a days and sometimes you need to be a little extreme to promote change. But I suppose my statement isn't quantifiable in today's age of legalese, lawsuits, and complacency.

I wonder what form of measuring BMI they will use? Because, if it isnt done properly it's totally inaccurate anyway.

FYI... if I enter in my statistics into a calculator that measures using simply weight, height, etc. I fall about 1% under the overweight category. I am a figure competitor and stay very fit and I can tell you that currently my BMI is approx 16% . I have had mine measured using the scale, the skinfold method using both 6 and 12 sites, and DXA (Xrays) tests. My competition BMI % is about 7-8% and according to standardized measurements, that would mean I would weigh approx 45lbs!!!!! LOL!!

There are also other forms of testing that include water immersement, BIA (electrical currents), infrared, anthropometric (measurements of various body perimeters), height and circumference methods. So, unless they are planning on spending a shit ton of money on the proper equipment required to accurately measure BMI % , I would think they would have one hell of a fight on their hands to prove that each individual tested was actually accurately diagnosed as being obese or overweight. So, I would be curious to see how all this goes!!!!

Posted by LeoLadyLovesToBeLoved
I wonder what form of measuring BMI they will use? Because, if it isnt done properly it's totally inaccurate anyway.

That's an AMAZINGLY good point. I got too caught up on the philosophy to think about the methods they were using.

Posted by VirgoHero

Posted by LeoLadyLovesToBeLoved
I wonder what form of measuring BMI they will use? Because, if it isnt done properly it's totally inaccurate anyway.

That's an AMAZINGLY good point. I got too caught up on the philosophy to think about the methods they were using.

click to expand

Well, I didnt even tap into the philosophical or moral side of the article, so...... 🙂

Posted by LeoLadyLovesToBeLoved


Well, I didnt even tap into the philosophical or moral side of the article, so...... 🙂

Well then? Continue. *Grins*

Posted by VirgoHero

Posted by LeoLadyLovesToBeLoved


Well, I didnt even tap into the philosophical or moral side of the article, so...... 🙂

Well then? Continue. *Grins*

click to expand

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LMAO!... Sorry, I got nothing!

asia

I used to play the old Duke Nukem for hours...haven't played the new one yet.

I bet its sick though 🙂

Oh lol....I assumed they had released it. Wow.