All language subtitles for Student Bodies 2015

The bill proposes to measure

body mass index, BMI...

That's what
we're doing here today,

address the core
problems we face.

And this is
a great move forward,

so I support the bill.

It's not like
I don't respect authority,

or believe in our government,

or trust the adults
who are in charge of us.

We do hearing the objection
title that was agreed to.

It's just that...

Well, the past year
has changed the way

I understand the world.

Just one year ago,
I was a junior in high school,

worrying about
doing my homework,

looking forward to getting
my driver's license,

and doing my best to fit in

and make friends.

And now, here I am

in the middle
of a national controversy,

in the personal debate

with our public officials,

all over the simplest thing
in the world,

a number.

But this isn't just any number.

This number is special.

To get it, you take one number,

divide it by another
which has been squared,

and then multiply that

by seven hundred and three.

The resulting number is, well,

magic.

This one number tells a story,

a story about your past

and even predicts your future.

Obviously, a number
that holds this much power

would be valuable.

And this one is.

So much so that some people

try to keep their number secret

for fear of what it might tell,

while others don't believe
in the number at all.

Then there are those,

even in our own government,

who believe in the
number's power so much

that they fight
to gain access to yours,

using the number
to determine whether or not

you are acceptable.

Yes, acceptable.

Not my words.

Theirs.

But I'm getting ahead of myself.

Maybe I should back up,

you know, to the beginning.

Or at least my beginning

and to what brought me
to this point,

fighting over a simple number.

- Dum, dum, dum...
- Looking back,

I kind of feel bad for what
I put my parents through.

That's good, Bailey.
You having fun?

No?

Apparently, I wasn't a pleaser.

Hello.

When asked a question,
I would just grunt.

I hated costumes
and school plays,

despised being paraded around

and refused to perform
for anyone.

That's me right there

at my first public protest

at age four.

Hugs were out of the question.

No smiling for pictures.

Yeah, here's an Easter
smile for you.

Some friends even gave
my parents a book

called the strong-
willed child.

I guess, it was supposed
to teach them

how to deal with me
or something.

This is where I live,

a small, historic town in Ohio.

After school, we can walk
down main street,

pass the old garage,

pass the church on the corner,

and hang out
at the ice cream parlor,

which is right across the street

from the gun shop.

Yup, it doesn't get
any more American

than this.

And this is my high school,

where I was taught that we have
the greatest government

in the world.

This is also where I learned to,

well, behave.

Remember that
strong-willed child

who was always making a fuss?

She eventually became
the soft-spoken, polite kid

that barely anyone notices.

I pretty much keep to myself,

stay out of trouble,

and never, ever
question authority.

That is until last year

when a bunch of us students

decided to stage a protest.

There was friction
between the new school board

and our principal,

so the board decided

to promote him
right out of his job.

But us students
weren't having it.

Our top story today.

High school students
dressed in black

storm the school board meeting

in which their beloved
principal was voted out

and removed from his position.

This was the first time
that I've ever held

a protest sign

or chanted on a public official.

Principal and instead...

I had my first
taste of democracy

and it tasted great.

Are more likely
to succeed in this group...

In the end,
the board backed down

and our principal kept his job.

It was then that I realized

that even kids
have a powerful voice,

and I think
I was finding mine again.

When asked,
school officials did admit

that the outpouring
of support had an effect

on the decision made tonight.

Reporting live in Springboro,
Holly Samuels, 2 news.

This feeling of empowerment

must have been contagious

because a month later,

at another school board meeting,

a sixth-grader named Maddie

bravely addressed
the board all alone.

But this time,
it was about something

more disturbing.

I also received a letter
from the school nurse

addressed to me.

As I read the letter,
I was crushed,

discovered the school
is telling me

that was not the healthy way.

Apparently, the school
district have been performing

body mass index test
on our students

and then sent letters
out to kids

whose number didn't fall

within an acceptable range.

I felt betrayed by the school

because I could fit
in to the school's idea

of what a kid should be.

Schools always supposed
to be a safe place,

somewhere I could feel accepted,

proud of my accomplishments,

and not put down.

I'm active in sports
and have a healthy...

This girl was inspirational.

The board promptly apologized
for the mistake

and the moment was just magical.

And while Maddie got the apology

she was looking for,

it made me wonder.

Was this really a mistake?

I mean, this letter
didn't mail itself.

And how many other students
got these letters?

Was that a mistake, too?

Do they get apologies?

To everyone else,

it seemed like the issue
had been resolved,

but this only raised
more questions for me.

Carrots, bell peppers,

these are tomatoes over here.

And over here, we've got
some asparagus starting,

which is our favorite vegetable.

Back there is cucumbers.

Which is my favorite vegetable.

And we've got some
herbs back there.

And we're trying to do this
without any chemicals

or any fillers,
just water and sun.

- That's it.
- No bug spray.

- No bug spray, no nothing.
- No fertilizer.

As you may know, I'm a chef

and she's in the food
business as well,

so we're both pretty
knowledgeable of nutrition

and this was kind of an idea
I've been wanting to have

in my own yard,

but also something
that we had talked about

with the school board.

Maybe doing a garden,

have the students
in summertime co-op

and have their own vegetables

for their salad bar
at school, you know.

Teach children something
that they can take away,

and carry within the rest...
Because it tastes so much better

when you know
you've done the work

to get it there, so, um...

It's amazing to think
that a family like this

received a notice
about health and nutrition.

Later that day,

Maddie told me
about her own struggles.

Um, uh, my condition

is human growth
hormone disorder.

Uh, that means I can't
grow like a normal child

and I can't lose weight, so...

And I can't grow teeth
and I'm very slow

and, like, that whole process.

In spite of her condition,

Maddie was getting along
just fine at school,

until one day in gym class.

Nurses, I guess from the state,

came and weighed us
and measured us

and it really
made me uncomfortable

because there's another child
in there too with you.

So I mean, it just, like,
really made me feel awkward

and I really didn't wanna do it.

Did they give you a choice?

No, they made us do it.

What Maddie didn't realize

is that the district
was actually grading students

on something more
than just academics.

And here was my report card.

Then I found this letter

or what's left of it anyways.

And it basically says
that, you know,

I'm high in my weight

and I ripped it up

and I threw it in the trashcan.

She got the mail that day

and opened up her report card

with great anticipation
of receiving money

from her good grades

and she didn't wanna talk to me,

so she ran to her room

and locked herself upstairs,

so then I went
to the garbage can

and found that she had shredded

part of what came in the mail

and it was the letter
from the district.

My mom found it

and pieced all the pieces

that she could find together.

But obviously,

not the letter was found.

I felt like I wasn't accepted

in the society, basically.

I could never think about
anything else at that time.

I could always think
about how I'm a disappointment

to everyone.

The children
that received that letter,

they'll remember that
the rest of their lives.

They will remember, um,

how nice or sweet the school

tried to make it sound.

They'll remember
that the school said,

"you don't fit in.

"You are different.

"You are not acceptable
at what you're doing now

and that something
needs to change."

So essentially,

if they received it
for being underweight,

they're too skinny.

If they received it
for being overweight,

the school is essentially
saying, "you're too fat."

Um, those are words

and that's a moment and time

that these children
will never forget,

um, and that is a shame.

Sorry.

So, in life, you hold on
to those things.

And so, it's hard

when it's your kid.

At the time,
I was really mad at the nurse

because her name was signed.

But then, the nurse
met with my mom

and she told, um, her

that she had to send it

and she didn't have a choice to,

so I just felt
really sorry for her

and I wished that that never
happened to her either

because I mean, how much pain
that put her through,

and it's something
she deserved for that.

Nobody seemed to know

where the letter started,

why it went out in the mail.

I mean, how does
a letter like this go out

and no one know about it?

It just isn't possible.

Well, someone has to know

where these letters came from,

so I setup an appointment

with one of our school
board members

who also happens to be
a nutritionist,

college professor,

and doctor.

I'm a dietitian
whose private practice

is centered around
weight management

and eating disorders.

So, I was absolutely alarmed
that that went out

because you can't talk
to kids that way.

That's the whole wrong approach.

I was glad to hear
that someone else

thought that these letters
were a bad idea,

but I wanted to know
who was responsible,

so I went to the president

of the school board.

I don't think anybody

may have known
about it until that night

that she came and spoke.

The way those letters
are generated

is a state of Ohio

mandates that every school

conducting every child a BMI

or a, uh, body mass index

to, uh, to see where they fall.

This is sounding more sinister

than I thought.

State lawmakers
are forcing our schools

to do BMI testing on us

to determine our health?

Is that BMI
is an indicator of something,

but is it the most important
piece of information

about that student's health?

It's not even in the top five.

So I'd say
it's really not a value.

Well, that's good to hear

because lots of students
feel the same way.

But we're still forced
to step up on the scales,

so I decided to bring
my own scale

and mandate a BMI test

for every adult
that I interview.

Your height.
My height?

Uh-hmm.
Uh-oh. I'm five-six.

Five-six.
Uh-hmm.

I already know what mine is.

It used to be 19.
Can I use that one?

Sure.

Not surprisingly,

she didn't go for it.

No, not after age 30,
I wouldn't.

I mean, kids
that too, wouldn't they?

No, no. I agree. I agree.
Yeah.

It would've been,
you know, as a teenager,

it would've been
very private for me, too.

Uh-hmm.
I would not have appreciated it.

I was told that kids
were weighed in gym class

and they weren't given a choice.

Would it surprise you
that many of these kids

felt uncomfortable about this?

Well, sure.

I mean, nobody likes to be,

uh, tested, put on the spot.

But I think people
need to understand

where they fall on the scale

and how they're doing as related

to the rest of the population.

Well, I'm glad you say that
because I'm doing

my own BMI test.

Uh, would you mind stepping
on the scale for me?

Um, oh, boy.

I probably...
I probably should,

but I prefer not to.

Apparently, I don't have
the same mandate power

that the state has.

To be given a choice,

would you like that?

You're good.

Um...

As it turns out,

the board president was right.

Two years ago, state lawmakers

introduced senate bill 210,

which mostly
addressed improvements

and diet and exercise
in our schools.

Our healthy choices
for healthy children website.

And with a name like

healthy choices for healthy
children's act,

it would be political suicide

to vote against it.

Maybe that's how

this one little
controversial item

made its way into the bill.

The bill proposes to measure

body mass index, BMI,

on school entry
in grades k3, 5, and 9.

And that's when the discussion

got interesting.

To say that our schools

are gonna body mass index

little kindergarten students

and third graders.

Taking people's
body mass indexes,

I personally
find that offensive.

This is a national
security crisis

for the United States.

Make our people better,
thinner, stronger

so we can wage wars

and fight the battles
that need to be fought.

If you pick up an apple
and you eat it,

you know, their hunger
may go away.

Give me Liberty, give me death.

Two hundred thirty years ago
the English,

now it's about a twinkie.

You must have went swimming
over the holiday weekend

and hit your head
on the diving board.

When I was in the marine corps,

you get your rear end kicked

if you're not in shape.

It's kind of like
boiling a frog.

Slowly up the temperature
five or ten degrees

until the flesh
falls off the frog.

Or you stand
and fill sand buckets

until you lose 20 pounds.

Maybe mom and dad

ought to take these folks...

Okay. Wait.

Everybody calm down.

What is BMI anyway?

BMI was created

back in the early 1800s

by a Belgian researcher
named Quetelet,

and he was a man
of many interests.

He was a mathematician,

he was an astronomer,

and he did some work, um,

analyzing body measurements

and he came up
with a calculation,

weight over height squared.

It's calculated
using kilograms for weight

and meters for height.

In the United States, however,

we typically record measures

in pounds and in inches.

Um, as a result,
there's a simple calculation

that can be used and that's, um,

weight over height squared

times 703.

And the result is a...
Is an index

which we call body mass index

which is an indicator

of linearity or thickness.

I'm Dr. Stefan Czerwinski,

I'm the director
of the Fels longitudinal study

which is the longest
running study

of growth development and aging

in the world.

Uh, the study has been
around since 1929

and we continue to collect

body composition data
on children

over their lifespan.

So we use BMI
as an indicator of obesity

or what we often call adiposity.

We also use other measures

that describe that even better

in adults.

We know that
their issues with BMI

just in regard to athletes.

And children in particular, uh,

growth in boys over adolescence,

um, what you're gonna see
is higher BMls

due to muscle,
not because of fat.

And I think most researchers
agree with the fact

that BMI is not
a perfect measure

because it's easy,

it's relatively cheap,

um, it's used probably more

than it necessarily should be.

Why then are lawmakers

putting so much emphasis on BMI,

especially with children?

To find out more,

I visited Claire Mysko

who's dedicated her life's work

to studying and solving issues

of health, weight, and eating.

At the national
eating disorders association,

we really believe

in educating kids about health,

but to do it in a way

that focuses on health,
um, and holistically

and this idea
that kids should be fixated

on a particular number, uh,

to define their health
is incredibly problematic.

Um, so for the state to come in

and say,
"this is the measure of health

that we're going to apply,"

um, it's an inaccurate measure
of health for one thing,

um, and it's totally based
on a number, you know.

So for kids who are
already struggling

with low self-esteem,

poor body image, which she...

We know poor body image
is a huge problem

for many, many kids,

um, you know,

we find this potentially
very dangerous.

And this is the way
we ought to be doing it.

It's an important thing
for our kids.

It teaches them life lessons

and I think it's very rare.

All of us will get together

and come up
with a consensus bill

that's as good as this one

and I hope you all
will be willing to support it

because it's good stuff.

This whole conversation
is going to lead

to something very beneficial,

but I think the most
important thing

is that children
will have the knowledge.

I think we've done
good work here today

for the citizens of Ohio

and for the children of Ohio.

I am all for educating
kids about health,

but let's do it in a way

that makes sense,

that is not fear-based,

that is not going to lead

to shaming and bullying.

Um, it's so critical

that our government
actually develops policies

that are based
on good information.

Yes, I'm going to vote
for this bill,

but what I would like to say

is as we look at the obesity
problem in the future,

let's bring some
professionals in

who've spent their lives

in the research in this area

to give us some advice.
Thank you.

It's incredibly frustrating

that these decisions
are being made

at a government level,

um, without any input
from experts

who actually have
the knowledge, um,

and who are saying again,
and again, and again

that BMI is not an accurate
measure of health.

The question is,
shall the title be agreed to?

Representative Kearney
moves to amend the title.

If you wish to add
your name to the title,

please do so at this time.

Without objection,
the title would be agreed to.

Hearing no objection,
the title is agreed to.

So with everyone
that I interview,

I'm doing my own BMI test.

And so I ask them,

"would you like
to get on the scale?"

I have my scale right here.

Would you be willing
to participate

in my BMI test?

You know what,
I would not be willing

to participate in your BMI test

and I'll tell you why.
Uh-hmm.

I haven't known my weight

in, hmm,

probably close to 20 years now.

And not knowing my weight

has been one of the healthiest
things for me,

um, because at a certain
point in my life,

I was obsessed with this number

and it made me very sick

and very unhappy.

And to be able to live my life

and feel healthy,

I go to the doctor, you know,

I get all the tests
that I need to get done,

um, you know, I am not...

I don't live in fear
of this number,

but not knowing it

has made me
a much happier person.

Well, if not knowing your weight

could make you a happier person,

then our lawmakers are making

a lot of kids miserable.

So I decided to reach out

to the main sponsor
of the fat letter law

in my state.

Senator Kearney's office,
this is Emily.

Hi, this is Bailey Webber.

Um, I emailed senator Kearney
a few weeks ago

and I'm trying
to schedule an interview

and I didn't get a response,

so I'm calling again to see

if I could schedule
an interview possibly today.

Um, one second, please?

Okay.

Because his schedule right now,

uh, we wouldn't be able
to do a live interview.

But if you wanted
to email the questions,

we can get the responses
back to you.

That won't really work

because I'm doing
a video project,

so I'll need to interview him

for a video.

His schedule is really busy.

We're not thinking that
it's gonna be a possibility

to do any
sort of live interview.

I can't explain
what happened to me next.

But the more she refused
to Grant me an interview,

the more determined
I was to get it.

Um, do you think that there's
any other time available,

maybe in a few weeks?

I don't have to have it,
like, immediately.

No, I'm sorry.
He's not available.

So, does senator Kearney

not do video interviews?

He does when it fits
into his schedule.

Maybe, um, will his schedule

open up in a few weeks?

I can't give you
a definitive answer.

I'm not really sure, so...

Um, I can do...

Not even just in a few weeks.

I can do in a few months even.

Would that work?

Um, not at this moment, no.

She just kept on saying,
"schedule, schedule, schedule."

And I said... I'm like,
"everything is open with me.

"My principal is okay with it.

"I can leave school.

"Um, I close to Cincinnati,
Columbus, and Dayton.

"I can... i can drive there
anytime, anywhere

even in a few months."

And she kept on going
back to the schedule,

and then she got around...

She's saying that he doesn't
represent me.

I'm afraid he doesn't
represent you directly.

- Oh, okay.
- So...

And I was confused by that
because it's like,

"wait, he doesn't represent me.

"He passed a law
that represented

me and my friends."

I'm starting to think

that it's not about,
um, scheduling.

It's more about this topic

and maybe senator Kearney

doesn't wanna talk
to someone like me

about this.

But... i mean,
I'm not gonna give up.

I really wanna have
this conversation with him

and this is gonna be
a lot harder than I thought.

Now, there's so many emails.

Well, not everyone shies away

from this heated topic.

In fact, meme Roth

has been one of the more
outspoken voices

in the debate over obesity.

And so, schools,
for a long time,

have taken a role
in child health and welfare.

They see a bruise
or there's sort of,

maybe repeat broken bones.

You know, they say,

- "look, let's look into this."
- Uh-hmm.

And I feel that on the spectrum

of vision, health, um,

hearing, scoliosis,
and all the way

that is your problem
in the home,

maybe there's some
abuse going on.

Somewhere in that spectrum,

I think the BMI screening fits,

even though I understand

people are conflicted
about them.

But seriously,

nobody takes your BMI

and send you to surgery.

Like, there's a big gap
in between.

It is free.

It is non-invasive.

There's no blood.

There's no... not...
There's no spit.

It's literally free,
fast, and easy.

Uh-hmm.
And it's just

an initial screening.

Uh-hmm.
So, it just says,

"hey, um,

"your child might be
a little overweight

"it seems here.

Go check that out."

Or, "hey, your child might be
a little underweight,

go check that out."

If it takes
the government to intervene

to help preserve
a healthy life for these kids,

then I don't love that.

But I'm willing to concede that

if that's what it takes.

At first glance,

you might not think
someone like meme

can truly appreciate
the struggles of obesity

until you learn more

about her own
personal experiences.

I come from a family
that's overweight,

multigenerational, aunts,
uncles, grandparents.

My... both of my parents

are very obese.

My grandmother
was put into a, uh,

24-hour care facility

because her weight
got so immense.

And I think about
that obesity killed her well

before she died.

Imagine yourself
unable or unwilling

to get out of your bed

because you're so heavy
that you're willing

to just go to the bathroom
in your bed.

That's where obesity
takes people.

So, it's really hard for me

to call obesity beautiful.

It's really hard for me

to call rolls of fat curves,

because that's not
what curvy is.

I know what curvy is.

And I think that people

who try to normalize obesity

or glorify obesity,
they mean well.

They want people to feel good
about themselves.

But really,
it's not helping anybody.

But are fat letters
from our government

helping anybody?

And if so,

where is the evidence
to show this?

Hello, senator Kearney's
office, this is Leo.

It seems the one person

who should answer this question

is the only one
not willing to talk to me.

I called a few weeks ago

and, um, I also send an email

and I didn't get a response.

So, I'm calling again
to set up an interview

with senator Kearney.

We won't be able to actually

schedule an interview.

Um, but if you want
to email us your questions,

we can try to share those
with the senator.

Okay.

Well, I did send an email

a couple of weeks ago

and I didn't get a response.

And plus,
this is a video project,

so just answering on email

won't really work for me.

Uh-hmm.
Yeah, I understand that.

But unfortunately,
it's just that

with an interview
like this, it's...

The more they turned me down,

the more determined I was

not to take no for an answer.

So, I just kept calling back.

Uh, so, I'm calling back again,

but I forgot to ask
the question.

Can you give me a list
of any of the places

senator Kearney will be?

Anything on the schedule,
any luncheons,

or public speeches?

Uh, currently, no.

So, there's nothing
on his schedule?

I don't have any...
Anything like that

scheduled at this time.

Oh, can... so then,

can I just schedule
an interview?

No, if you want
your questions answered,

you need to email them to us.

It was official.

The battle of wills
was in full swing now.

Hello, senator Kearney's office.

This is Leo.

Hi, Leo. This is Bailey again.

I'm calling again
because you said

that there was nothing
on the schedule,

so I would like to schedule
a private luncheon,

and how would I do that?

I think what you're getting at

is if can you show up somewhere

and ask him your question

and have a conversation
with him.

The answer is no.

I tried the confused angle.

No, there's no schedule?

I tried to be assertive.

He's willing to speak for us,

but not to us.

No, if you want
your questions...

I even resorted to sarcasm.

So, is senator Kearney
a public official?

Is he a public official? Yeah.

So, as a public official,

when will he officially
be in public?

So, when you think
about our lawmakers

and everything they do,

it's all scripted.

Hearings, they're scripted.

They're reading off a speech.

Um, commercials, scripted.

They're reading off
a teleprompter.

Everything they do is scripted.

And when I called
to have an open conversation,

they said,
"no, we can't do that,"

but we can send an email.

Well, no, that's scripted.

They always are wanting
like students

to be more involved
in government

to learn about it, be interested

and, um, and I'm interested,

but they said,
"no, this is all the question.

"The senator
cannot have a interview

or a conversation
with a citizen."

Do you wanna call again?

The BMI to notify them.

But not all lawmakers
were silent on the matter.

Senator Gary Cates

was more than willing
to talk to me

about the BMI law.
So, I can tell you

from personal, uh, testimony

that there are times
when there are bills

that come to legislature
that sometimes,

you vote for something

even though you don't think
it's the right thing to do

because you're worried
about negative consequences

such as bad newspaper stories.

Commercials and campaigns

saying that you hate kids,

you don't want them
to be healthy.

But sometimes,

even if you're the only
person opposes to it,

if you think it's
the right thing to do,

you got to do that.

And senator Cates did just that.

In fact, he was one
of the few lawmakers

who raised concerns
about the BMI mandate

during the senate hearing.

I would tell you
the approach we're taking here

is completely wrong.

And so, the last thing
we need to be doing here

is to get involved with this,

have our schools
involved with this.

I was trying to convey
to my colleagues

is that think
really hard about this.

We're gonna regret this.

And I can't help but to think
that the school district

is gonna be jumping
up and down saying,

"yippee, now,
we have this to do."

We can't do everything

in the schools.

There are some things
that have to remain

within the family nucleus

- and I think that...
- Senator Cates

was not alone in his descent.

Some school officials
also stood firm

in opposition to the law.

I took it to the school board.

We had a discussion and we said,

"no, we're not
gonna force our children

"to go through
this kind of testing

in our school."

So, how does schools like this

get away with ignoring
the mandate?

As it turns out,

the law does allow for a waiver

to be issued.

But there's a catch.

A district has to claim
a financial hardship

to get it.

So, what if your objection
is philosophical?

The question I have
is what do we do

with a school district
who may wish

to opt out for philosophical
or other reasons?

This would not allow them
to do this.

So, I'd like a clarification
on that, please.

Senator Cadman, would you, uh...

I don't agree with that.

Senator Cadman, would you reply
to the chair, please?

Hmm, a tricky one.

I am gonna phone a friend.

What? Phone a friend?

Oh, call me. I know this one.

The answer
you're looking for is, no.

Senator Cadman, it looked like
you established contact

- with that friend...
- No.

Without phoning.

But I'll...
I will phone a friend

and ask senator Seitz

who indicates that there is...

There is a answer
to that specific question.

What?

Just answer the question. No.

Thank you very much,
Mr. president.

My good friend from Butler
county raises a very good point

because the requirement
to get the waiver

is that it be
for financial reasons

- and...
- Clear enough,

that's a no.

Oh, wait, he's still talking.

If indeed
the requirement violates

the philosophic position
of the school,

clearly, that could have
a financial impact

on the school because...

Ah, I see where this is heading.

I believe that this goes
against their philosophy.

They are not going to send
their children to the school.

And that will clearly create

financial hardship
to the school,

then therefore,
all they've got to do

is turn in an affidavit.

In other words,

make up a fantastic,
convoluted story

that ends with an imaginary
financial hardship

for your school.

Then, with a wink and a nod
from the state,

you've got yourself a waiver.

The beauty of this amendment

is that the affidavit
is in effect,

self-effectuating.

It is an automatic waiver

and that's why
that last sentence...

My dad once told me

that people shouldn't see

how sausage in malls are made.

I never really understood
what that meant

until just now.

So, for those schools

that have
a philosophic objection

that will lead
to financial hardship,

for those schools that don't
wanna spend the extra money

for financial hardship,

one simple affidavit

is a self-effectuating way...

Ugh, that's disgusting.

Can we just take that off
the screen, please?

Oh, okay, that's better.

I'm sorry everybody
had to see that.

Then again, I'm just a kid.

I'm probably
just misunderstanding

all of this beautiful language.

The board signed off on it

and I made the application
for the waiver.

I don't think it was a great
financial burden.

It was more of a philosophical.

Nope, I was right.

We're all in the same page here.

In spite of the criticism,

other states have begun adopting

similar BMI notifications.

But why are they so popular
among lawmakers?

At Columbia university,

I met with professor
Sayantani Dasgupta

who is also a pediatrician

and mother.

We have these
knee jerk reactions

to things that we see as crisis.

And we wanna do
the right thing, right?

We want a healthy
nation of kids.

And so, we think,

"well, gee,
what's something quick

and far reaching
and simple that we can do?"

And I think that's how people
fall into these traps

of legislation like this.

And it's very attractive

kind of one quick answer,

one quick number

that's gonna tell you
healthy or not?

And yet,

the indicator itself,
BMI itself,

may not be an accurate
measure of anything.

And that's a really

kind of harsh reality to face

when you've made
a bunch of legislation

based on the truthiness
of this number.

Then, the possibility is,

no matter how good
the intentions,

we might be doing
more harm than good, right?

But it seems lawmakers

don't wanna talk
about that possibility

and all the good
intentions in the world

don't necessarily lead
to good results.

So, with everyone I interview,

I conduct my own BMI test.

And so... yes.
Do you now?

So I have a scale today

and I was wondering,

would you like to be
a part of my BMI test?

Thank you very much
for the offer.

Um, I don't think
our young people

should be being weighed
in gym class.

And I think I will choose

to not be weighed today either.

Okay, I totally understand.

So, you'd like to exercise
your right to choose?

I do.
You choose no.

Although I appreciate
your private...

Yeah.
Door-to-door BMI service.

It's perfectly fine.
You know,

I exercise my right

and I'm not particularly
affected by it.

What worries me
is that I don't think

my 10-year-old daughter,

I don't think
she would have the room

- or even know it was an option...
- Yeah.

To exercise her right
not to get on that scale.

Officials in several
states have adapted

a controversial tactic

in trying to bring
childhood obesity

under control.

They're sending
what some call...

Nineteen states
across the country

this September

are considering sending
these letters home.

States across from, uh, new
York to Arkansas to Illinois

are participating in this.

They're monitoring
how fat the kid is...

Florida law
that requires students

to have health screenings
is stirring up controversy.

The parents of a young girl
in Naples, Florida...

are being sent home
to children as a part

of the Massachusetts department
of public health's policy

to inform parents
of their child's body mass index

or BMI and their risk
of obesity.

As government BMI initiatives

and fat letters

spread like wildfire
across the country,

it even extends to kids

who aren't overweight at all.

We got it, everyone
got it that day in school.

And, you know, we were all...

I think we were pretty much
all called overweight.

My friend said she cried at home

because she was called obese.

And she's not obese.

And it was one of my best
friends, you know.

Yeah.

So, it says that I'm 60...

I was 66 pounds...
Uh-huh.

And my BMI was 19.

Okay.
So, it says here, current BMI

is 19, placing you
in the 88th percentile

for child...
For girls age nine.

Your BMI falls outside
the healthy weight.

Please review your BMI
with a healthcare provider.

And I was like,
"oh, I'm overweight."

Yeah.
And, like, at first,

I was like,
"oh, I'm only 66 pounds."

And then, I looked, I'm like...

I'm like, wow.

The normal...
I'm 88th percentile...

- Uh-huh.
- And the normal one

is 77th percentile.

So, I'm only
10 away from normal...

From like, you know,

what they say is normal health.

They're going about it
in the wrong way.

To me, it's just a way
for them to say,

"well, we're doing something.

We're combating
childhood obesity."

You're not combating
childhood obesity.

You're... you know,

you're simply
sending home a letter

that in fact might be doing

more psychological harm

than physical wellbeing.

You know, we hear
so much in the news now

about the obesity epidemic.

And this is not to minimize
the seriousness of it,

but we also have an epidemic

of eating disorders.

And we need to make sure

that in our efforts
to confront one epidemic,

we're not adding
fuel to the fire

of another one which is what
we're hearing so much

that this, perhaps,
well-intentioned,

but incredibly
misguided approach

of screening kids for BMI

and sending home letters

is actually triggering
eating disorders

and stoking
an intense fear of fat

in young children

who don't need
to be thinking about that.

It's very toxic,
kind of, thinking for kids.

It was actually
getting this letter

that then made her question,

is she overweight?

Which made her then
examine her body,

you know, asking, "is it this?

Is it my thigh?
Is it my stomach?"

And then,

it was a frantic feeling almost

of me trying to...

Trying to tell like,
"no, no, everything's fine.

"No, that's perfect.

"You're perfect.
That's fine.

Don't worry about that.
That's not what they mean."

And all this encouraging.

That is what...

Was most disturbing
about the whole thing.

Is that now, you just put this

into my nine-year-old's head.

You put this thought
into her head.

Are you against
vision screenings at school?

Are you against
hearing screenings at school?

Are you against
scoliosis screenings at school?

I'm not. I think it's great

that our schools help us
out in that way.

And the thing
about children's weight

is study after study show

that parents don't recognize

their children's
weight problems.

You just kind of don't see it.

You think your kid
is kind of normal, and so...

Well, that may be true,

but how did these studies
define obesity?

I mean, would we even agree
with the definition

or would we be counted
as fat blind?

Like these parents
who also received letters

calling their kids overweight.

But apparently,
they just don't see it.

And he came home and said,

"I'm fat."
I said, "you're not fat.

That's... where did
you hear that?"

He said, "from school.

"I opened up my fitness gram

and it said I'm fat."

Clearly, this mother
is delusional

and can't see
her own son's obesity

the same way the state does.

Does that make you feel
really bad about yourself, too?

Did you look at yourself
in the mirror...

Yes.

You did?

The thing about
the BMI screening

is that the reason the parents

are in an uproar over it,

the f isn't for fat.

The f is for parenting.

Those letters come home
and parents feel like

it's an indictment
on them and it is.

You know, what's for them to say

that my daughter is overweight?
Yeah.

My daughter is actually active.

She's black belt,

not everybody is going to have

the model image, skinny

that the government
or whoever say

that they need to be skinny.

I don't think she's overweight.

I think she's fine
the way she is.

Well, they said I was obese.

I thought, "oh, my gosh,

why are they thinking
like this?"

I felt like I was...
I wanted to cry.

Go straight to my room and cry.

Just do what I did.

They don't...
They don't know us.

You did when you got home?

Yeah, but I was
thinking to myself,

I was remembering
what I eat every night,

a daily serving
of veggies and fruits.

So, I was like,

"if I have my fruits
and veggies,

why do they
call me obese?"

Yeah.
There's no reason

for saying that.

It's like they called
everybody that.

Each one of these kids

received a fat letter.

Like, they had
a little measurement,

but they were called overweight.

The focus on body shape

and body image in our society

has become very extreme.

And, you know,

it's not improved a lot
over the years

where young women particularly,

but I always have to mention

young men are forced
into categories.

Well, that's what
they think of us.

Yeah.
It's not like they're judging us

by who we really are.

Kids, yeah, you can
make health fun with them.

And it doesn't have
to be accusatory,

it doesn't have to blame,

and it doesn't have
to make a poor child

grab the body fat on their side

and say, "this is
what they're talking about."

I've brought a scale

right here

and I was wondering
if you'd like to participate

in my own private BMI test.

Come back in three months

when I've had time
to lose a few.

You're fine.

No one else has
wanted to be weighed.

I don't blame you.
All right.

Through this experience,
I've talked to many kids

and a lot of them
are very healthy.

And they even say
when they go to school

they feel really embarrassed.

Even though they're healthy,
they feel embarrassed

to get on the scale
at the school setting.

What do you think about this?

Well, weight has become
a stigmatized subject

because a lot of people are
embarrassed about their weight

and children are taught
that you don't discuss weight.

You're not allowed to ask
people's age and weight,

it's so silly.
These are just numbers,

- these are just facts.
- Yeah.

How old you are,
how tall you are,

how much you weigh
are just numbers.

And so we sort if spread this,

discomfort about our weight
even for people who have,

like, what?
I'm this number

- and it means nothing to me.
- Yeah.

We make them feel,
I think a little

uncomfortable about it
because society's uncomfortable

- about the subject of weight.
- Yeah.

Now, everyone I interview,

I conduct my own BMI test.

Ah.
Yeah. And so,

I mean, just to be fair,
I'm gonna ask you.

I have a scale here today.

Oh, no, I have to weigh today?

If you want,
I'll give you a choice.

I have a scale here,
and would you want

to participate
in my own BMI test?

So this would be
between me and you.

Not really.

It... that is
perfectly okay.

No one had said yes.
I have to think about that.

I have to think about... that's...
No, no, no,

everyone had said no.
Everyone had said no?

No one wants to go on the scale.
Because they don't wanna weigh?

Yeah.

Yeah, and even you said
the one thing you wished

when BMI was in school

is that they weigh the kid...
Privately.

Privately, not in front
of their friends.

Yeah.
Very, very private, you know.

Yeah, I do...
I do think it's private,

- but for me, right now.
- Yeah...

This minute, this week,

I happen to know
that I'm really heavy for me.

Otherwise, I'd be jumping
on your scale,

like, of course I'd be happy.
Yeah.

So, I feel
like it's terrible of me

to not really want to.
Yeah.

But it's because I don't
wanna face reality

that I already know,
which I'm about five pounds

heavier than I should be.
Yeah.

And I know exactly why.

I know Halloween.
Yeah, exactly.

I know the fudge tart cookies,

I know the nutter butters.

Uh-huh.
I know why.

And, so I think that's why

- I don't wanna deal with it.
- Yeah.

But, i...
But I don't think it's fair.

I think I should get
on your scale.

I think it's weasel of me...
We... very weaselly of me

- to not get on your scale.
- No, I understand.

No, I will weigh myself only...
Yeah.

Because I think
it's wrong not to.

Yeah.
But I've given you every reason

why I hate it
as much as anybody else

and I don't wanna go
on the record

that I've ever been this heavy.

I'm so mad
because I shouldn't be,

but let's do it.
You... oh, are you sure?

Yeah, no, it's fair.
Okay.

Oh, you put it right here.
Okay, one second.

So, what is my...
What is my allowance on...

Yeah. Well...
All these pretend pounds

of clothes that I'm wearing?

We'll take off five pounds.

Okay.
Okay.

So here's the thing...
So, tap it once

and then you step on it.
Tap it and then get it on?

Yeah.
So this is why really sucks

because... okay, there.
Oh, oh, sorry.

So, um...
What were you saying?

Don't step on it yet.
'Cause I know that I'm...

Okay, you tell me...
Do I do it now?

Now you can.
Okay.

So this is gonna really suck
for me...

Uh-hmm.
Because... oh.

So I'm about five
overruns this week,

but I can live with that.
With everyone's support, yeah.

But that is what it is.

As I travel
the country with my scale

making friends
and making my case

I still couldn't reach
the one person

closest to my home.

And then out of the blue
it happened.

I'm sitting here at the computer

doing my homework
and I look over to the TV

and senator Kearney
is on the news.

This is the man
I've been chasing for so long

and he's on the news.

Okay. Hold on.
Let me rewind this.

I just literally got an email
from the campaign

- two minutes ago.
- Senator Kearney,

that's him.
So, Wednesday, it looks

like the president is going

to be here.
The man who doesn't give

interviews is on the news.

And he says where he's gonna be.

President Obama
is expected to arrive

in Cincinnati tomorrow night.

It's gonna be his free

two minutes ago, so, Wednesday,

it looks like the president
is going to be here.

And he's gonna be there, too.

I guess him
and the president are tight.

I got to find out
where there is.

I'm sorry but we won't be able

to get you any more tickets

because the event is sold-out.

I'm trying to think
is there any other,

like, way I could get it in?

There'd be any extra seating,
I can stand.

Well, you're welcome
to come down

and show your support,
but without a ticket,

I'm afraid you won't be able
to get in.

I'm a student
and I'm studying journalism

and, um,

and I would like to get in
because I'm trying

to get this interview
with the senator.

Well, if you have a press pass,

you might be able
to get in that way,

but that's not handled by us.

Do you have press credentials
from your school?

What are press credentials?

Well, press credentials
are like an ID

that identify you
as a journalist

or at work.
Okay.

But again, press passes
aren't issued by us.

That's handled
by the president's staff.

So, I'm not really sure

what to tell you there.

I may not have
press credentials,

but I have Photoshop
and a printer.

My heart was racing.

After all this time,
I've almost made it,

and behind this door
was my destiny.

Actually I was wrong.

Behind that door
was the secret service.

Thank you.

After a few
uncomfortable minutes

of explaining myself,

turns out the president's
people were kind of cool.

They even issued me
a white house press pass

for the event.

Hi. This is Bailey Webber.

I'm here from university
of Cincinnati

and I saw on the news
that senator Kearney

was gonna be here.

So I was hoping maybe
to get an interview with him.

I'm in the press area,
so it'd be great

if you give me a call back maybe
if you can come over here

and just talk to me.
That'd be great.

Thank you so much. Bye.

Maybe he's here.

Hello, Ohio.

Wow.

It's the president.

The fight just yet.

I am not ready to give up
on that fight.

Wait, Kearney's
right over there.

For those of you who

and still trying to open
their minds.

This is not just a choice
between two candidates

and two parties,
it's a choice between two

- different visions of America.
- Where is he?

He just left.

He was standing
right over there.

A choice between a return.

Hi, this is Bailey again
calling for the senator

and I see him right here.

I was wondering if he could
just come to the press area

so I can interview him
real quick

if that's all right.

Thank you so much. Bye.

In the past,
we feel the same way.

We want you first.
You don't...

Let's see if he comes.

I got it.

That's him.

Yeah, that's him.

And so this can't make

you have to want
the change, right?

And it starts
with the choices that you make,

and this is what I tell my kids,

make healthy choices, right?

It's comforting to think

it's diet and exercise,

because it's something
that feels controllable.

Just think about putting
a little more fruits

and vegetables on that tray
and then trying to eat them.

Can you do that?

Come on now.

There are a lot
of researchers out there that,

that will insist
it's a simple physics equation,

energy in, energy out,

and it should be fine,

but that's not the case.

You have to be active
and move, right?

Can you help me with that?

Yes.
Yeah.

We need to stop

putting this on the kids

and saying it's your fault

or there's something
you're doing wrong.

We don't want whining.

Can you help us by not whining
about a change?

You know,
to single out kids and say,

"you need to change
your behavior,

this number is a problem,"

you know, it's not the number
that's the problem,

it's all of the other issues.

It's not one single thing,

it's gonna be 50,
60 different things

that we'll have to look at.

The truth of the matter is,

there's a big problem
facing our country

and the solution
isn't that easy.

We have been offering eat less,

move more
lifestyle modification,

which is all important,

but we have been offering
that treatment

for the last 50 years.

If it is that simple,

why are we talking
about obesity today?

Why is it not fixed 50 years ago

if it was a simple cure?

Meet Dr. Nikhil Dhurandhar,

a physician with a masters
in nutrition sciences

and a PHD in biochemistry.

Many, many people,
when they hear the word obesity,

the first they think...
Probably think of

is that these people
who are suffering from obesity,

they have no willpower

or no self-discipline,

and that is what has caused
their obesity.

But remember that obesity
is a disease.

Yeah.
It chooses you,

you don't choose obesity.

Dr. Dhurandhar's lifework

has revolved
around researching obesity.

His dad is known as the father

of obesity practice in India,

and he's not only the chair

and professor
of nutritional sciences

here at Texas tech university,

but he's also president
of the obesity society.

Maybe we should listen
to what he has to say.

But some people seem to think

they have inherent knowledge

about how to prevent
or treat obesity

without necessarily studying

the science of obesity

and that's the dangerous part.

More scientists
learn about obesity,

more I learn about obesity,

more I learn what I don't know

and what we need to find out.

The danger comes
from simplifying the issue

considering this complex disease

as a simple matter of willpower.

And that's where
the danger comes

about assuming so many things

that it is your choice

to become obese
and it's your choice

that you will remain obese.

Sleep, you know,

too much sleep
or too little sleep

is linked with obesity.

Environment of a baby
in mother's womb,

in uterus,

is linked with obesity

as well as many other

metabolic diseases
such as diabetes.

There are certain infections,

viral infections
or other microbes

that have been linked
with obesity in humans

and having shown
to cause obesity

in various animal models.

So, the...
These are numerous factors

that are an...
What they call

as endocrine disruptors

so these are chemicals

in our environment.

And there are people

who are investigating

if those chemicals
in our environment

are contributing to obesity.

So, intuitively,

it sounds like it's only that
and exercise,

but what are the other factors

that maybe sort of superimposed

on that diet and that activity

or that hunger and that satiety?

And that could be many.

Chemicals?

Microbes?

Infections?

Viruses?

If you find that
hard to believe,

hold on to your seats.

Look at this data

from the center
for disease control

showing what an outbreak of flu
looks like.

As a contagious virus,

notice how it moves and spreads

exactly as we would expect

a contagion to do.

Now, here's a map
showing asthma.

As a non-contagion,

there is no pattern
whatsoever to its growth.

It appears random.

Now look at this data

also from the CDC.

This is the spread of obesity.

It spreads
exactly like a contagion.

It acts like a virus.

It moves.

If obesity is only
about an individual's diet

and exercise,

how do we explain this?

The world health organization

has declared that we,

as in the world,

is in the middle of a global

obesity epidemic.

Every single country
is experiencing

increase in prevalence
of obesity,

and this phenomena is observed

only for the past few years.

What's going on?

Every population
is getting heavier

in the United States,

to some extent Canada,

- Britain definitely, Australia.
- Worldwide,

about twenty-two
million children

under the age of five

- are estimated to be overweight.
- Now one in five people

are overweight
or obese in China.

- More than 250 million people...
- Mexico has overtaken

the United States

in levels of adult obesity

according to a recent
united nations report.

There have been various
theories offered

why we're having
increase in obesity,

prevalence all over the world,

but not a single theory

explains situation

in every country.

We have been focused
on obesity in humans,

but it has also been noticed

that while we're doing that

in past 20 years or so,

animals have been increasing

their weight as well

and we don't know the reason.

But it has been seen

that companies

that supply...
A certain company

that supply animals
for research,

they have animals
in very controlled environment,

and those animals

have also gained weight.

When we are talking
about obesity,

it's not only
in the United States,

it's many countries
in the world.

And, no, it's not only humans,

it's even animals
seem to be gaining

more weight in the recent past,

and what would be
a satisfactory,

like, explanation for that?

I don't know.

It's

are in the building.

It's been seven months
and I'm calling

senator Kearney back
to schedule an interview,

and they told me
they'll email me,

and then surprise, surprise,

they never emailed me back.
So, I'm calling again

- to see if it's impossible.
- You... it's not an issue.

No, no, no,
it's not an issue of gaining

additional information from you.

It's an issue of creating
a paper trail.

- Right. Um...
- One thing we do

is... I'm sorry?

Is there...
Is it possible for today

to pick a date

or are you guys busy?

No, like it's over...

Yeah, I actually have a meeting

in six minutes and...

- Okay.
- If you can email it

to me then from you.
It's an issue of creating

a paper trail
in a way that we do in...

Can, um, we can pick a date

in six minutes,

is that all right?

Bailey, no.

You need to email me, Bailey.
I mean, I don't know

what's the deal.
Like, if I call,

I can't schedule,
email can't schedule.

She tried to blame it on me
like it was my fault,

that I'm not emailing
the questions,

or maybe I'm not calling,
I'm not...

Working as hard as I should

for this interview.

I actually have emailed
lots of times

and nobody's gotten back
with me.

I've called like six times,

I've emailed,

more than six times.
I don't get it,

like, why would you
be rude to me?

I'm not being rude,
I'm just being...

I'm determined.

There's nothing wrong with that.

In here and send it to me.

I'll go over it with the senator

and I'll be happy to get back.
How far will I go?

I think I'll...

I think I've gone far enough.

It's been seven months,

why not seven more months?

How about a year?

And they, like,
make walls for me.

The walls treated me bad

and they treat me
and my friends bad

and now they're treating me bad

personally on the phone.

I don't know.
I didn't know about...

I didn't know
that our government

was like this.

I guess this is, kind of,
like a learning experience,

but I will get his interview.

You know, who gets to speak

and who gets spoken for
in our society

is an issue of power.

If I had a message to give

to young women,

to young people in general,

I would say
nobody can give you your voice.

You have to claim your voice.

And you have to speak,

and if they don't hear you,

you have to speak,

and speak, and speak again.

If they're not willing
to listen,

you have to say it again
and knock on a different door.

Hi.

Do you know where
the senate session is gonna be?

Yeah. Upstairs.

Okay, cool.
Thank you.

If they're still not
willing to hear,

well then maybe they need
to move over

so that those banded together
young people

can make the change
that's needed themselves.

This place is huge.

I don't know where I'm going.

Hi.
Hi. Do you know

if senator Kearney
is gonna be in here

for the hearing?
Senator who?

Kearney.
I don't know.

Oh, okay.
I don't know.

Okay. That's fine.
I'm not sure, honestly.

Okay. Thank you.

Yeah, I recognize
that guy over there.

He was one of the people
at the hearing

who spoke out against...

Or for the waver
and he explained

that and he said
that to pretty much lie

if it's not a financial burden

to put down for the waver.

So he's one of the makers.

Hi.
I watched the hearing...

I said I'm doing this project,

on childhood obesity

and I heard that he spoke out

at this during the bill
couple of years ago

and I'd like to get
his perspective on it.

And he was like,
"oh, sure, yeah,

we can do that."

And then turned around.

He didn't seem like he wanted
to talk right now.

It's kind of awkward.
I stayed in there

for a little bit, like,

"I guess this conversation
is over."

I was just like,
"um, don't get up.

I can see myself out."

Six.
Okay. Upstairs?

Ground floor and

okay. Cool.

Six.

Here we are.

Senator Kearney's office.

I can't believe it.

Senator, minority leader.

Let's get the interview.

Hi. Mr. senator.

I got the interview.
We're gonna schedule.

I'm gonna scoop out some areas
in place.

They're really nice.

And, oh, yeah, that's not all.

I met with senator Kearney,
he was right there.

He just kind of came in
and then I introduced myself

and I kind of was surprised.

They're gonna email me back

and we'll pick the location

and we're gonna pick a date,

so I'm gonna get the interview.

Hi, Bailey. How are you?
Very good.

Hi. Yeah, tell me
what I should do.

Okay. Would you mind
sitting there?

I'll sit wherever you tell me.

Okay. Cool.

Okay.
Is this all good?

And, like, I watched
the hearings and stuff

and so, yeah. Yeah.
Oh, you did?

They're online.
Oh.

And so... yeah,
so I became,

like, very knowledgeable
about all of that.

We have limited time.
I'm gonna, kind of,

skip the first part.

Do you still recommend
that schools continue to do

BMI tests and send out letters

to kids who are overweight?

Yes, I think BMI testing
is very important

and the way that it was designed

was... schools
wouldn't report

by school districts or by, um,

or by individual schools,
they will report by county.

And so that way,
we could get the data,

the state could have
that information

and we could see if over time,

the things that we're doing,

the steps that we're taking

like incorporating gym class,

reducing the availability
of sugary drinks,

including healthy food
during lunchtime,

if that's working,
and if Ohio's children's BMI

is going down.

So I still support it.

Once you find out
some health information

about a student
that their BMI is elevated

or above the acceptable range,

we felt it was a responsible
thing to do

to inform the parent

and let the parent
make the decision.

Are you saying,
like, that parents,

like, they don't know
that their child is overweight?

Well, they may not know

that their child is overweight

compared to certain statistics.

So for instance,
you might look at someone

and look at your child
and think,

"oh, my child
is perfectly healthy,"

and not realize that,

well, there's certain
health risks

that may be associated

with their current weight
or body.

So it's just to inform them

about it.
Okay.

And like, you know,
like kids go to doctors,

are you saying that,
like, the doctors

don't know
that they're overweight?

Well, doctors may know

but doctors may not inform them

that the BMI is above

an acceptable range

or that the child is overweight

and what to do about it.

I know that when I take
my children

to the pediatrician,

the pediatrician
takes their weight,

writes it down
on a piece of paper,

and that's the last
you hear about it.

Oh, yeah.
So they never talk

about the weight, um...

And my school
did BMI testing on us.

Lots of kids got these letters

including my friend, Maddie.

Uh-hmm.

This is the letter she received.

Here.
Oh, okay.

I take it Maddie
didn't like this letter.

No.

Yeah, she got this letter
in her report card.

She was so excite
to see her grades.

She's an a student.

And she see...
She pulls out the letter,

as frustrated
as she was already,

she just ripped it up

and threw it in the trash can.

And her mom found it

and taped it together

and almost made her
go into depression

and she... it ruined
her entire summer.

It was pretty hard for her.

Okay. So, she didn't like

getting the letter at all.

No, she was already aware

and this did nothing
to help her.

Hmm. Well, I'm sorry

about your friend, Maddie.
Yes.

And it seems like it was
very disturbing

by, um, by the letter

but I mean, hmm,

some of the...
Some of the things

that the letter says is,

um, well,

I can't read all of it
because, you know,

part of it is missing.
Yeah, it says not go on a diet

and to see her doctor.
Uh-hmm.

But other than that,
there's nothing else

that is helping her

like an educational tool
besides saying,

"you're high in your weight,"

like it even
highlights it there.

Yeah, right.
So, her mom

was pretty upset by it

and how, kind of...
Oh, she was?

Yeah.
Uh-hmm.

She... they're very aware.

And actually, her mom,

she knows a lot about health

and they have a garden
in their backyard.

Can you, like, understand
how they might feel

and how these letters
might be going out

to kids who aren't
necessarily healthy

and actually shouldn't be
getting the letter?

No, I think everyone
should get the letter

if they went through
the BMI test,

because it just says
whether you're above,

below, or in the...

In the acceptable range,

that's all it says.

And what you do with it

or how you react to it
is something...

Is something different.

I can perfectly understand
how some people

would be offended by the...

By the letter, but overall,

I think that the goal
of what we're trying

to accomplish through the bill

and the implementation
of the law,

are worthwhile goals.

I guess just Maddie

and kids who are like Maddie

are just, kind of,
collateral damage

in this study?

Well, I wouldn't call them
collateral damage,

I mean, I'm very sorry

that Maddie feels this way

but I think that there are
some good things

that the bill is trying
to accomplish.

Perhaps the execution

wasn't the way
that we envisioned

but, certainly, I wouldn't...

I wouldn't use that phrase
as collateral damage.

Okay.
I don't... no,

I don't think of them that way.

Okay.
So you just wish

that never happened to her

and people who are like her?

Well, I wish her reaction
weren't the...

Weren't the way that it happened

- and I wish that...
- Wow,

the senator's constant
blaming is unbearable.

Parents are clueless.

Doctors are incompetent.

And if you're upset
about being profiled

and bullied,

you're just reacting
the wrong way.

But of everything that was said,

this was the most bizarre.

Yeah, we should find out

why they're sending
those letters out.

Wait, what?
Why are they sending

these letters out?

You've written a law
forcing them to.

That's it.

It's time to do
what I came here for.

I'm gonna get something.

So, just like you did,

I'm doing my own BMI study

with my documentary.

Uh-hmm.

If you wouldn't mind,
would you please step

on the scale?
Why?

Because I'm doing my own
private BMI test.

I don't understand.
I mean, with everybody

I interview, I ask them

if they would like
to get on the scale,

because kids at our school,

they had to get on the scale

to be weighed for BMI test.

Okay. I'm willing
to do it

but I think it was only fair

to let me know
that you're gonna do

stuff like that beforehand,

but okay, I mean I'll do BMI.

Okay.
Do you want me to step on it

with my shoes
or without my shoes?

Oh, you can... you can take off
your shoes if you want.

Okay. I don't wanna
mess up your scale

so I'm asking you
for that reason.

Yeah, it'll be okay.
Okay.

We'll weigh...

The entire documentary?

The entire documentary.

The entire documentary
is about...

Childhood obesity,

but one part of it is about

and how

I don't know...
I don't know what that means.

Oh, a hundred
and ninety-three.

You mean in terms of my weight?

Yeah.
No.

What?
Did he say, no?

I guess we've all been there
at some point.

Looking down at that number
in disbelief,

telling the scales, "no."

After spending an awkward moment

debating whether scales
are more accurate

on carpet or tile,

the senator finally agreed
to his weight.

We can just use this number.

It's 19... it says 193.

Yeah.
I'm 72 inches.

Thank you for doing that.

Okay. Well, I don't
have a problem.

I mean...
Just some people...

If you wanna know my BMI,
I don't...

I don't mind that.
Some people feel like

being weighed is uncomfortable

and they only think
it's for them

and their doctor.

Okay, well...
Can you understand how...

People can have...
Can have that opinion.

Sure.
Yeah. Do you feel like I,

kind of, crossed my boundaries

asking you
to do something personal

that's between you
and your doctor?

No, this is what I think.

If you had told me beforehand,

I would have been
more than happy

to agree to do that.

So, you know,

if you wanna know my BMI,

it's not really quite frankly
that personal.

- I don't really mind it.
- Yeah.

Or if somebody wants
to know my weight,

- that's okay, too.
- You seem very fit,

but what about,
like, overweight kids,

can you understand
how overweight kids

feel uncomfortable?
Yes. Yes.

I understand.
I'm empathetic to that.

Yeah? Okay.
Certainly.

You can look at a person

and tell that person
has obesity or not

because a person, unfortunately,

wears that disease
on their body.

You don't need
a special screening

to find that out.

And perhaps that makes people

jump to give helpful advice

to those who are suffering

from that disease, obesity.

But trust me,
those people know that.

They don't... you don't need

to tell somebody have...

That they have obesity or not.

You may have to tell somebody

whether they have
diabetes or not

or high blood pressure or not,

but you don't need
to tell somebody

who has obesity or not.

They... that person knows that.

The assumption behind
telling somebody

that you have obesity,

the assumption is,

that person is choosing

not to lose weight.

And that is a very wrong
assumption.

So simply pointing out

that you have more bodyweight

means nothing

in terms of that person

being able to take

a meaningful corrective action.

210 divided by...

72 squared.
Seventy-two squared.

That's, seven... okay.

So that's 28.4.

Okay, let's see right here.

That isn't... on here,

it's such a narrow range.

- Uh-hmm.
- For the healthy weight.

Yeah, that's over...

So forty-four,
three.

Yeah, that's obese.

Yeah.
Okay.

200 divided by...

66 squared.

Squared

okay.

- He is overweight.
- Okay.

Get that up there.
Okay, the next one.

Okay, okay.
Okay, here.

Oh, that's just shocking.

All these people
voted for the goal

and most of them

this is interesting.
Oh, my gosh.

Yeah.
There's only three people

that meet it.

Yeah, and all
these people wanted,

like, this bill to happen

and they all themselves

are overweight or obese.

Like, how can you talk?

Yeah. And how
could you bully

someone else and being like,

"you don't fit
the standards?"

But...
Yeah.

We're gonna... we're gonna try
to change that.

So we're here
at the state house.

We're delivering the fat letters

that we've been working on

to the senators
who voted for the bill

and it says their BMI,

it has the same language

as the letter
that Maddie received.

And we're gonna go up there
and deliver them together

and so just holding them

to the same standards
just like they did to us.

Over there.
Yeah.

All right.
Let's go.

Here it is.

We found it.

Hold this.
Oops.

All right.
Are you ready?

All right

yeah, I mean, I understand that.

When we were walking
on the hallway

like getting ready to,
like, deliver it

and one of the senators
walked out,

it just... it all hit me
at once.

It became real
and then when we, like,

went up to her office
and we saw her nameplate,

I just...

It felt so wrong
because she's a real person.

She wasn't just a face
on the Internet.

I mean, she was
just like me and you,

and I know I felt
and I felt crushed

and horrible by myself.

I felt like I didn't
belong anywhere.

And I would never

wanna make anyone feel that way.

I'm sorry that I've... like,

we talked about this
and I was so ready to do this.

Yeah.
I came here wanting

to do this and I just...

It just made me feel bad

when I received the letter.

I mean, I felt uncomfortable
about it, too.

I thought it was mean

but I mean, then again,

I just had in my head
holding them

to the same standards,

but I understand.

I'm glad you stepped up.

I just couldn't go
through with it.

I feel bad because I was like,

"here, I'll give it
to him ."

Like, I was stepping up for you.

But then you're right,

it wasn't the right thing to do.

Well, I mean,
I guess you could be

a good bureaucrat
because, I mean...

Because I don't have feelings?

Yes, because you don't have
any feelings.

Well, actually,
hold that thought.

I still have the letters.

So when you leave,
I'm going back up there

and I'm giving some senators
some letters.

Oh, my gosh.
You would make

a perfect bureaucrat.

When I see young people

using their experience,

using their insight

to speak up

and speak out,

it's so wonderful.

And it does give me hope.

It can bring about change

on a personal level

and the other
really amazing thing

is that it can bring
about change

on a cultural level

and real measurable change.

It has become my...

Sort of my religion that I want

to do something to this field.

Now, I don't...
I don't have the arrogance

to think I'm gonna
change everything

and cure this global
epidemic of obesity

that we have,

but I want to be able
to contribute

to whatever extent I can

and that's my, passion.

Let's not make health

one more
kind of measuring stick,

one more moral ruler

to beat kids on the head with.

Let's give them room

to be healthy
and love themselves.

When you think
about the understandings

we've come up with
over the last,

you know, 20 years,

the... it's really changed

the way we look at the problem.

And I think we are starting
to finally unravel,

many of the pieces

that go into

the obesity epidemic.

We need to launch

the direction of research
and approach

that can effectively treat,

control, prevent this disease.

And those solutions
can be at society level,

at community level,
at individual level,

at genetic level.

So all those
together eventually,

we will be able to

conquer this disease.

Hi, sir. Would you like
to participate

in our free BMI test?

Okay. That's fine.

Do you think it's uncomfortable?

The lawmakers made us
get on the scales

to be weighed for BMI,
so we're up here to see

if anyone else
would like to do it.

We won't write you a letter.

We're doing free BMI test today.

Oh, good.
Totally understand.

You got to have a permit, okay?

Oh, we didn't know.
Yes.

We thought it was public.
Okay. Are we allowed

to just ask questions?
Or I mean out here.

But you'll be able
to film and stuff.

So you're doing free hugs?

Oh, yeah,

you got free BMI test?
Yeah.

Is that on?
Yeah.

It's always on.

Are we allowed to, like, do it

without, like, the sign,

you know, the sign is...
No. No.

Not even ask questions?
No, ma'am.

There's a free speech area
right out there

in front of that fountain.
Okay.

Okay?
So we'll just head over there.

We just make sure we don't
disturb anyone with the truth.

Would you guys like a free BMI?

Free BMI.
No.

This is our only spot
we're allowed to stand.

At this common area,

we're not allowed
to have weapons,

concealed firearms,
or free speech.

So there's a person over there

and we want to ask him
if he would like

to step on the scales,
but we think

he's outside
of our free speech zone,

so we might get in trouble.

He's protected.

Hey, Maddie, is free speech
our next issue?