Welcome to the Bedford In Motion page!
Regular physical activity is linked to enhanced health and to reduced risk for the development of many chronic diseases in adults. However, many U.S. adults are either sedentary or less physically active than recommended. Children and adolescents are more physically active than adults, but participation in physical activity declines in adolescence. School and community programs have the potential to help children and adults establish lifelong, healthy physical activity and nutrition patterns. Our goal is to provide resources and information to help the Bedford community become healthier.
What is Body Mass Index and why are schools checking and reporting this information?
The Massachusetts Public Health Council unanimously approved regulations that require public schools to calculate student’s heights and weights into Body Mass Index measurements and send the results home to parents of students in 1st, 4th, 7th, and 10th grades, along with a package explaining what they mean and how parents can best combat obesity. (Parents can opt their children out of BMI screening).
The new regulations, are part of a larger statewide initiative called "Mass in Motion", designed to fight rising obesity rates. Department of Public Health Commissioner John Auerbach characterized the childhood obesity problem in Massachusetts as "very severe," with one-third of Massachuestts students falling into the categories of overweight or obese. By explaining body mass index calculations to parents, including resources on proper nutrition and exercise and partnering with pediatricians, Comissioner Auerbach said he hopes to help reduce that rate.
"This is about giving to parents the tools necessary for them to ensure that their children are as healthy as they can be," Auerbach said.
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The body mass index is an indication if a person is at a suitable weight for his or her height on an approximation of body fat. To determine body mass index, a person's height and weight are put into a mathematical equation and the determining number divulges if a person is underweight, overweight or at an ideal weight. According to the American Heart Association, a body mass index can be determined with this equation: multiply your weight in pounds by 703, divide by your height in inches, then divide again by your height in inches.
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A body mass index of under 20 is considered to be underweight, while a body mass index between 20 to 25 is considered healthy. A body mass index in the range of 25 to 30 is regarded as overweight. A body mass index over 30 is regarded as obese.
BMI Frequently Asked Questions:
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This Website is funded via a MiniGrant through the Northwest Suburban Health Alliance/CHNA 15 DoN funds from Lahey Clinic
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