BMI letters not effective for teens

LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas (WPVI) -- Parents, you are probably familiar with the BMI, or body mass index chart.

Many schools started using this to create a body mass 'report card' for kids.

It was a tactic to fight childhood obesity.

But now it seems it may not work very well, at least not for teenagers.

25 states monitor the BMI of students.

But in 10 states, including Pennsylvania, schools must send parents notice of what their child's BMI is.

Arkansas, the first state to adopt these letters, says they haven't resulted in curbing obesity.

The state has now stopped sending them to high school juniors and seniors.

The thinking is kids who were overweight probably already knew it, And for many, they would see the letters as nagging.

The study says money would be better spent on programs to get teens to be more physically active.