Should School Nurses Weigh Students? We Asked 5 Experts

One in four Australian children aged 2 to 17 years are classed as having an above robust weight based on their body mass index (BMI, calculated by dividing weight by height squared).

Australian Academy of Nursing says School nurses can support reduce childhood obesity and prevent chronic diseases by weighing and measuring school-age children.

Karen Grace, National Director of Professional Practice, Australian College of Nursing he told Nine Newspapers:

Nurses are ideally placed to assess whether further support is needed and to make referrals to a GP or dietitian.

The proposal has caused anger from healthcare workers and parentsBut the university says The goal is to reduce stigma and judgment and support families.

So should school nurses weigh students? We asked five experts.

Five out of five said no.

Here are the detailed answers.

Information statements:

Brett Montgomery is an inactive member of the Green Party. The Green Party has supported taxes on sugar-sweetened beverages, as well as other public health policies aimed at addressing weight problems.

Clare Collins AO is an affiliated researcher at the Hunter Medical Research Institute (HMRI). She is a National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Leadership Fellow and has received research grants from the NHMRC, Australian Research Council, Medical Research Future Fund, HMRI, Diabetes Australia, Heart Foundation, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, nib foundation, Rijk Zwaan Australia, WA Department of Health, Meat and Livestock Australia and the Greater Charitable Foundation. She has consulted for Shine Australia, Novo Nordisk, Quality Bakers, Sax Institute, Dietitians Australia and the ABC. She was a member of the systematic review team to develop the 2013 update of the Australian Dietary Guidelines, the Heart Foundation evidence reviews on meat and dietary patterns and is the current co-chair of the Guidelines Development Advisory Committee for Clinical Practice Guidelines for Treatment of Obesity.

Natasha Yates is affiliated with the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners.

Rachel Jefferson there are no significant connections.

Vivienne Lewis is a member of the Australian Psychological Society.