Frances Chan, 20, a student at Yale University, almost got kicked out for being too thin. This is because the university placed too much emphasis on the body mass index (BMI) in determining one's overall health.
In September 2013, Chan submitted herself to a medical check-up at Smilow Cancer Hospital at Yale - New Haven because there was a lump on her breast. Fortunately, the lump was benign. However, it prompted Yale Health to take a closer look at Chan's well-being.
Since that time, she underwent several medical appointments and weigh-ins to monitor her weight. She even met with a nutritionist to help her choose a diet that can help her gain some pounds and a mental health counselor to know if she was suffering from any eating disorder.
However, after religiously following their recommendations, she only managed to get an extra two pounds.
"It felt really bad to be this powerless," Chan told New Haven Register while taking in some afternoon sun in a campus courtyard. "I ate ice cream twice a day. I ate cookies. I used elevators instead of walking up stairs. But I don't really gain any weight."
Her parents also spoke with the Yale Health officials explaining that she'd always been thin, but healthy. Their family doctor even submitted her childhood medical records, but to no avail.
But, as the spring break nears, the history major student thought she'd had enough and decided to write an essay telling about her struggles.
She also wrote a letter to Yale President Peter Salovey informing him of the issue, and spoke with Yale's Health officials that it is not just the BMI which neither determines a person's overall health nor does it the best indicator either. That fact was supported by her new physician.
"So she trusts that I do not have an eating disorder and admitted that 'we made a mistake,'" Chan continued.
Finally, the university accepted the fact that it is really genetics to blame on her very low weight. However, Chan will still need to come to Yale Health for monitoring once per semester which she agreed to do.
