French Diet Guru Promotes Grade Inflation Based on Students' BMIs

Dr. Pierre Dukan
Pierre Dukan is a diet guru from France who created The Dukan Diet, which many celebrities swear by. However, he is now moving on from his traditional audience – adults who want to lose weight by eating a diet that is very heavy in meat – to a new audience: high school students.
In his new book, which will be published on Thursday, January 5, 2012, Dukan makes a recommendation to the future president of France to institute a program that will encourage students to maintain a healthy Body Mass Index (BMI), which can be determined by comparing a person’s height and weight. This seems like a good idea; students should learn about healthy lifestyle choices in order to become healthy adults. However, Dukan recommends giving the students higher grades if they have an acceptable BMI.
Wait a second, is he really suggesting grade inflation for students who are in shape? Evidently, the answer is yes.
“There is nothing wrong with educating children about nutrition,” Dukan said. “this will not change anything for those who do not need to lose weight. For the others, it will motivate them.” He claims that his new education plan is “a good way to sensitize teenagers to the need for a balanced diet.”
Dukan’s new book, which outlines his education plan that will essentially reward thin students and deny overweight students, is called An Open Letter to the Future President. France will be holding its presidential election in April 2012 and Dukan has said he will be sending a copy of his book to all of the candidates.
Personally, I think this isn’t a good idea. High school students already are pressured to be thin and in good shape. By associating their weight with their grades, some students will feel even more pressured to lose weight in order to achieve an acceptable BMI and they might turn to extreme measures to accomplish this. In my opinion, grade inflation is never a good idea, and that’s exactly what Dukan is promoting.
But hey, those are just my views. What do you think? Tell us in the comments section below!
Via The Associated Press
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