Parents of obese children to receive official letter of warning

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The Department of Health has decided to send letters to parents of clinically overweight children in England in order to routinely inform them that their child's weight is above the healthy norm.

Parents will be warned that obesity is associated with a greater risk of heart disease, diabetes and cancer in later life and will be encouraged to change the child's diet and lifestyle.

Ministers decided that the letters should not contain derogatory terms such as 'fat' or 'obese' in order to reduce the stigmatisation of overweight children.

What do you make of this new controversial move? Is it an essential step forward in the fight against the obesity crisis or do you think it is slightly absurd to inform parents about something that is as obvious as an overweight child? What else can or should we do to assist parents of overweight children?
  • added August 05, 2008
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News and Politics

10 responses // Parents of obese children to receive official letter of warning

  •  

    no one else can say it to em! they'll get mad lol

    zealotohio
  •  

    "Mrs. Miller, this is an official document sent to remind you that your child is a big fat chunky failure. Get to work."

    Classy.

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    s0und0FF
  •  

    Where are the parents in this one? Maybe they should send a letter to the parents telling them to help their children get fit and not help them get fat!

    3rdEye
  •  

    Right. Let's shame the little ones. That ought to work. Maybe we could hmmm hold them back two grades if they don't meet weight standards?

    Or maybe, I know this is radical, maybe we could actually provide real food, healthy food, unadulterated food at school and then add back in the physical fitness classes that have been cut due to budget concerns to fund the war in Iraq.

    MeganMcKenzie
  •  

    theyll probably just eat it.

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    teddy14
  •  

    I like this idea. Get the fatties in shape and stop them from mooching off healthcare. If they watched their diet then they wouldn't need as much medical treatment for their back pains, their knee pains, their neck pains, their body aches, and on and on and on...

    atharrach
  •  

    We can either accommodate obesity or fight it
    I’m in favor of the latter even if that means sending “insensitive” letters to parents of obese children
    It needs to be reinforced that obesity is not natural, normal or appropriate in any way

    jaystyx
  •  

    Since the government is in complete control of their health care, it only seems logical that the government should want to protect their investment. By educating parents and opening their eyes to their and their child's situation, they are potentially deterring future health care expenses and in the long run saving themselves money. Seems logical to me. Oh, and good for them for attacking this problem.

    Stevox
  •  

    Parents should be held accountable for the way their children live their lives!

    I know I am. Healthy children equal healthy adults. .

    brightdivine

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