School Letters on Students' Obesity Outrage Some Parents

By Michelle Galley

Two school districts that sent letters to parents informing them that their children might have weight problems based on school-sponsored health screenings are facing a backlash.

Angry parents have accused officials in the two districts—one in Pennsylvania and the other in Florida—of everything from meddling in family matters, to harming students' self-esteem, to contributing to obesity by allowing vending machines on campus.

But some national experts contend that such notifications are sound. "It's a good idea, given the increasing problem with obese children," said David A. Birch, the president of the American Association for Health Education,...