This student said she wouldn’t calculate her BMI for a test – her answer is absolutely perfect
When this 8th grader was asked to define BMI she did it – but when she was asked to calculate her own, she declined.
In a Facebook post which has now gone viral, the student’s response says a lot more than most would about body shaming, in relation to BMIs.
She begins by defining BMI, as asked, but also outlines some problems with the equation.
“One of the formula’s obvious flaws, explains Alan Aragon, the men’s Health Weight Loss Coach and nutritionist in California, is that it has absolutely no way of discriminating fat and muscle. So, let’s say there is a fairly athletic woman who maintains a decent diet, she’s five feet, six inches and she weighs 190 lbs. But, 80% of her body is muscle. That doesn’t matter when calculating BMI! This woman’s BMI would be 30.7 and she would be labeled as obese.”
She goes on: “Does that makes sense to you?”
“Because it sure doesn’t make sense to me. How could someone who stays fit, eats healthy, and has a low metabolism be in danger of heart disease and [diabetes]? Oh, that’s right, because she isn’t in danger of obesity and heart disease. This woman is active and healthy and she is the furthest thing from obese.
“In conclusion, BMI is an outdated way of determining a person’s body health, and it’s a measurement that SHOULD NOT be used in a school setting where students are already self conscious and lacking confidence in their unique bodies.”
But her next answer is where it gets really good.
Asked to calculate her own BMI, she writes: “Now, I’m not going to even open my laptop to calculate my BMI.
“And I’ll tell you why. Ever since I can remember, I’ve been a ‘bigger girl’ and I’m completely fine with that; I’m strong and powerful. When you put a softball or a bat in my hand, they are considered lethal weapons. But, at the beginning of the year, I started having very bad thoughts when my body was brought into a conversation. I would wear four bras to try and cover up my back fat, and I would try to wrap ace bandages around my stomach so I would look skinnier…”
She continues: “So my lovely mother did what any parent would do when they noticed something wrong with her child, she took me to my doctor.”
“My doctor and I talked about my diet and how active I am. He did a couple of tests and told me I was fine. He said even though I’m a bit overweight, he’s not going to worry about me based on how healthy I am. So this is where I don’t calculate my BMI because my doctor, a man who went to college for eight years studying children’s health, told me my height and weight are right on track.”
The final paragraphs are just perfect, as she states: “I am just beginning to love my body, like I should…
“…and I’m not going to let some outdated calculator and a middle school gym teacher tell me I’m obese, because I’m not. My BMI is none of your concern because my body and BMI are perfect and beautiful just the way they are.”
Images via MacLeodCartoons Facebook
