In an effort to promote healthy living, Lincoln University in Pennsylvania has instituted a program that requires students to maintain a healthy body weight. Announced last week, the plan stipulates that students who weigh in with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 or over must complete a fitness course in order to be eligible for graduation.
Lincoln University is America's first degree-granting historically black university and is located near the town of Oxford in southern Chester County, Pennsylvania. As it stands now, 24 of the 92 students who weighed in with a BMI over 30 have not registered in the required fitness course and face the risk of not being able to graduate.
Although the program may have been designed with the best of intentions, it has already been met with criticism. Monique Lauzon, a nutritionist at McGill, believes that this program is unfair and will be ineffective.
"I can understand what they are trying to do," said Lauzon. "But to single out and impose on overweight students - this program is, in my opinion, not very effective. Studies have shown that in order to achieve long-term positive lifestyle changes, participants need to be invested in a program, not forced into it."
Lauzon added that McGill is more interested in providing students with information on healthy eating and trying to promote a healthy lifestyle, rather than forcing such activities on students.
"I believe the best approach is to give university students the knowledge they need and the opportunity to adopt healthy lifestyle habits. Promoting exercise and encouraging healthy changes in behaviour and reinforcing this message to all of the university community is more sound."
Dr. James L. DeBoy, professor and chair of Lincoln's department of health, physical education and recreation has been busy defending the plan. In a letter to his faculty, DeBoy explained the justification behind the policy and urged the university to stand its ground.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Arnold
posted 12/01/09 @ 12:59 PM EST
LOL! I had to double-check I wasn't reading this from onion.com!
ceebee
posted 12/04/09 @ 3:36 AM EST
Unreal. The rules/requirements should be for everyone. Not for a specific class or target. That's discrimination.
Schools in general are just a joke and a waste of money. (Continued…)
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