F for fat: obesity on report cards? Illustration: Ron Tandberg.
A CHILD'S weight should be included in their school report as
part of a radical plan to tackle the obesity crisis, according
to the man who led Australia's successful response to the AIDS
epidemic. David Penington, who chaired the National AIDS Task
Force from 1983 to 1987, also suggests the GST be raised and
extended to a broader range of foods to encourage healthy
eating. Professor Penington, a former Melbourne University vice-
chancellor and dean of medicine, told an obesity summit in
Canberra this week that the inclusion of weight in primary
school reports could spark discussion between teachers and
parents about their children's diet and level of physical
activity. ''Some obesity does start in early childhood just with
very bad eating habits,'' Professor Penington said. ''It's not
that I want the schools to be seen as the body responsible, but
nonetheless use the school environment as a way to contribute to
ensuring that the broader issues ar