Lose Weight or No Diploma

An interesting approach to addressing the problem of obesity in the African-American community, at least as far as one historically black college is concerned.

From Inside Higher Ed...

More than two dozen seniors at Lincoln University, in Oxford, Pa., are in danger of not being able to graduate this spring -- not because they’re under disciplinary probation or haven’t fulfilled the requirements of their majors, but because they were obese as freshmen.

All had body mass index (BMI) scores above 30 -- the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ threshold for obesity -- when they arrived on campus in the fall of 2006, but none have taken college-sanctioned steps to show they’ve lost weight or at least tried. They’re in the historically black university’s first graduating class required to either have a BMI below 30 or to take “Fitness for Life,” a one semester class that mixes exercise, nutritional instruction and discussion of the risks of obesity.

Students interviewed for the story seemed upset by the requirement and, perhaps, a bit blindsided by it. “It’s not up to Lincoln to tell me how much my BMI should be. I came here to get a degree and that's what the administration should be concerned with,” said Lousie Kaddie, a sophomore.

DeBoy said it’s exactly what the university should be concerned with. “This country’s in the midst of an obesity epidemic and African-Americans are hit hard by obesity and diabetes,” he said. “We need to address this problem directly with our students.” “I’m not a lawyer,” he said, “but we test for written, oral communication skills and I don’t see this as any different…. We want our students to have a sound mind, but also a sound body.”