The Greenfield Recorder: Hanna Vaughn (SSW’21) Appeals for Reforms in School Health Examinations to Combat Fatphobia
The high rates of disordered eating and body image disorders among teenagers are a growing concern for public health. While schools in Massachusetts have monitored students’ body mass index (BMI) reports as indicators of their health since 2010, alum Hanna Vaughn (SSW’21) suggests that this measure is more harmful than helpful to the mental health of young people. BMI reports have been shown to contribute to negative weight comparisons with peers and warped perceptions of self, which contribute to harmful eating habits and discrimination based on body type.
Excerpt from “My Turn: School body mass index reports do more harm than good” by Hanna Vaughn, originally posted in The Greenfield Recorder:
If Massachusetts is concerned with the health and well-being of its students, evidence-based practices should be implemented in the schools, rather than programs that are not supported by research. This includes addressing systemic issues such as food insecurity, income inequality, and lack of equal access to health care services. The system that prioritizes weight loss over actual health is fatphobic.”