HONOLULU -- A state lawmaker has suggested Hawaii's public schoolteachers be forced to weigh in as part of the fight against obesity in students.

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A resolution in the state house would create an obesity database among teachers. The idea isn't being well received by the teachers union.

Promoting a healthy lifestyle through physical education and health classes are part of the curriculum being taught in Hawaii's schools today.

State Rep. Rida Cabanilla introduced a resolution requesting the Board of Education establish an obesity database among public schoolteachers.

"You cannot keep a kid to a certain standard that you yourself is not willing to keep," Cabanilla said.

2005 LEGISLATURE Gov. Lingle Senators Representatives Bill Status Discussion

It's been documented that more than 20 percent of Hawaii's children are at risk, or are already overweight. There are no statistics on teachers.

The resolution calls for all public schoolteachers to weigh in every six months.

The measure calls for the education and health departments to formulate an obesity standard and appropriate measures for teachers who cannot meet the standard.

"As a matter of fact, we should start at home, but since the Legislature has no way to regulate homes, we can at least start in school," Cabanilla said. "And teachers have a lot of impact to these students."

While the union agrees that teachers are at the front line when it comes to the education and health of children, they say the resolution has good intentions, but is misguided.

"I think at this point and time, the focus really needs to be on putting highly qualified teachers in the classroom," Hawaii State Teachers Association President Roger Takabayashi said.

The union defends its members as low users of the health fund system.

"I think it's quite offensive. I don't think it will lead us anywhere. It's not going to benefit the children necessarily," Takabayashi said.

A similar resolution is in the Senate. Whether it will be heard in committee may depend on the public support behind it.