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Teenager Refuses to Calculate BMI at School and Shares This Powerful Response

Teen responds over BMI

A teenage girl who refused to calculate her BMI at school has been praised by one of her parent’s friends.

The Facebook page MacLeod Cartoons, posted photos of the teen’s response about positive body image and how BMI is outdated and doesn’t define what is healthy.

BMI response

The Facebook post said, “So proud of the family of one of my friends,” he wrote. “May we all raise strong girls and boys, willing to stand up for themselves.”

The teenager felt strongly about why she didn’t believe the BMI calculation belonged at school because she had struggled with a rating she receive earlier in the year. The teenager admitted that her BMI rating was ‘obese’ despite being an active and healthy teen. The teen took herself to the doctor to get an understanding on her score and her doctor advised her she didn’t need to worry about her weight.

In her response to the class activity, she explained that BMI was outdated and used her own experience to share why other students shouldn’t be expected to work at their BMI at school.

“BMI is an outdated way of defining normal weight, underweight, overweight or obese,” the teenager explained in answer to the question ‘What is BMI?’.

“One of the obvious flaws explained by a men’s health weight loss coach is that it has absolutely no way of discriminating fat and muscle.

“It doesn’t make sense to me that someone who stays fit, eats healthy and has a low metabolism could be classed as ‘obese’ and in danger of heart disease?”

When teenagers are already battling self-confidence and looking for positive body image role models, the last thing they need to be pressured with is calculating their BMI at school.

The teenage girl explained the measurement should not be used in a school setting where students already lack self-confidence around their body image. She also shared how she had come to love her body.

“Ever since I can remember I’ve been a ‘bigger girl’ and I’m completely fine with that, I’m strong and powerful,” she wrote.

“But I used to wear four bras to cover up my back fat and wrap bandages around my stomach so I would look skinnier.

“My doctor and I talked about my diet and how active I am. He told me I was fine.

“I am just beginning to love my body like I should and I’m not going to let some outdated calculator tell me I’m obese.”

What do you think of this teenage girl’s response? Has your child or teen every been put in the spotlight at school about their weight or body image?

Rebecca Senyard

Rebecca Senyard

Rebecca Senyard is a plumber by day and stylist by night but these days she changes more nappies than washers. She is a happily married mum to three young daughters who she styles on a regular basis. Rebecca is not only an award winning plumber, she also writes an award winning blog called The Plumbette where she shares her life experiences as a plumber and mother. Rebecca also blogs at Styled by Bec believing a girl can be both practical and stylish. Links to the blogs are http://www.theplumbette.com.au and http://www.styledbybec.com.au/blog

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