This is in response to the Sun Journal editorial (Sept. 12) on childhood obesity. Living in Pennsylvania, I, too, see childhood obesity as a rapidly growing health care concern.

As part of yearly health screenings required by the state department of health, Pennsylvania includes a measurement of body mass index for school students in grades 1 through 8 to track students’ growth and potential weight-related problems. The percentage of overweight and obese children living in Pennsylvania is 18 percent, according to the Department of Health statistics.

I was saddened when I read about parents in other states opposing BMI measurements and state legislatures not having the support to enact BMI measurements for students.

Even with the current health care reform and the recommendations by Michelle Obama to address childhood obesity, legislation for BMI measurements in schools lies with the states, not the federal government.

As a registered nurse, I am an advocate for required BMI testing in schools. Schools are able to capture measurements of the majority of children to track and trend the results. Those results can be a valuable tool to elicit government funding for new health care programs for our children.

If childhood obesity is not addressed, our children face a grim and dismal future, laden with care problems.

Joyce Rossi, BSN, RN, Bridgeville, Pa.