![WSPN’s Annika Martins and Maddie Zajac explore the athletic life of senior Annabelle Zhang through her badminton career. “This [photo] is me and my former partner after we won the 2022 junior nationals mixed doubles category,” Zhang said.](https://waylandstudentpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_6629-1200x900.jpg)
We all know that childhood obesity is a problem in the United States, with about 17% of children ages 2-19 suffering currently suffering from obesity. However, is childhood obesity an issue in Wayland? That is to be determined by the Massachusetts Public Health Council, which has appointed a board of doctors and other employees to begin screenings of first, fourth, seventh, and tenth graders starting next fall.
The majority of doctors and medical associations are in full support of these screenings. Obesity is a disease that often leads to heart attacks and other health issues. Doctors are hopeful that the screenings will help with prevention and awareness of the disease, and will thus eliminate more health problems for these children down the road. Parents will receive a “score card,” updating or alerting them about their child’s weight, and the parents will also be able to decide whether or not to take action. “I think it’s a good idea, as far as awareness,” says school nurse, Amy Schoeff. “There won’t be any surprises, and having an absolute number is good.” Schoeff, however, does have a concern about the unguided weight loss that may follow the screenings. “It would be better if the parents received guidelines for safe weight loss,” she says.
Many recognize the thin line between the promotion of healthy eating and the promotion of unhealthy weight loss. “I think [the screenings] could definitely cause some very unhealthy habits for people under pressure to lose weight,” says Wayland High School junior Jon Bailey. Many students hope that the state will be able to address these concerns before launching the screenings in public schools around the state next fall.
![Seniors Garrett Batt, Tom White, Emmanuel Nzaramba and Jack Calverley work together in preparation for the Spring Fling. “We decided to host this because March is kind of a slow month [in which] there’s not really that much happening, so I just thought it would be fun to put pep back into everyone so people could look forward to something this month,” senior Delcie Peter said.](https://waylandstudentpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Screenshot-2024-03-20-at-10.28.14-PM-1200x832.png)
señor buchanan • Jun 9, 2009 at 10:10 PM
I agree with Anon/gif/
Obesity is not a disease. It is no more of a disease than smoking is. Just take control of your life. Why is it OK in our society to tell someone who is smoking that what he or she is doing is bad for their health, but it is completely unacceptable to tell an overweight person that eating too much is just as dangerous?
I understand that there are people with medical conditions that prevent them from metabolizing or they have some other defect, but seriously, America has an obesity problem. I think it is pathetic that we cannot help ourselves get out of this mess, so we call it a disease and get doctors to help.
Anon/gif/ • Jun 8, 2009 at 6:10 PM
I have to agree with Kevin, as seriously? If you can’t tell/see whether or not a person is in need of some sort of health renovation then this shouldn’t be in place. On top of that, statistics are bull. They don’t speak for the common man, just a collection. There’s bound to be some off/horrible statistic on this. On top of that, how in the heck can you suffer from obesity? I mean really? That’s like suffering from alcoholism: it’s more like an addiction than a disease. I mean, you don’t say if you’re addicted to speed/meth that you’re suffering from methis-ism… You are addicted, and need some help, that’s all. Plus, is obesity really something you CAN suffer from? It’s more like your parents are /too lazy/ to teach your a correct diet, or the person is too lazy to get up and do exercise. They should be proactive, not the schools/government.
Kevin • Jun 6, 2009 at 12:00 PM
I’m very against this, as our personal physicians should be able to determine our weight status. Everyone goes at least once a year. To have your school get involved can, at least I personally believe, be humiliating.