ABSTRACT
This chapter interrogates the increasingly widespread use of Fitnessgram in physical education classes in the United States and, particularly, the ways in which children and their families are implicated in its use. It focuses on the discursive positioning of parents within both 'The Cooper Institute's' own manoeuvrings and the broader debate about Fitnessgram's place in the war on childhood obesity. Fitnessgram has also been endorsed by the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD), now known as Society of Health and Physical Educators (SHAPE) America. Recently, the Cooper Institute announced their decision to partner exclusively with US Games as opposed to their previous vender, Human Kinetics. The local department of public health issued the following statement justifying the process: Children with high body mass index (BMI) are more likely to become overweight or obese adults and be at a higher risk for diabetes, heart disease, and some cancers.
