Should School Nurses Measure Student Weight? Experts Say 'No'

As childhood obesity rates remain high in Australia, a debate has emerged over whether school nurses should measure and weigh students to curb the issue. Despite the proposal from the Australian College of Nursing, five experts strongly oppose it, citing ineffectiveness and potential harm to children's mental and physical health.

In Australia, one in four children aged two to 17 is classified as above a healthy weight based on their BMI. The Australian College of Nursing believes that school nurses could help curb this issue by regularly weighing and measuring students.

Karen Grace, the national director of professional practice at the Australian College of Nursing, says nurses are well-placed to identify overweight children and refer them to GPs or dietitians. However, this proposal has received backlash from health professionals and parents, who argue it could lead to stigma and negative judgment.

Five experts unanimously rejected the idea, arguing that routine weight checks could be ineffective and potentially harm children's mental health. Emphasizing holistic, non-stigmatizing approaches and external factors like diet and physical activity was suggested as a better strategy.

(With inputs from agencies.)