Mother's outrage as healthy five-year-old son weighing 4st is branded obese by NHS
By Daily Mail Reporter Last updated at 6:13 PM on 17th March 2010 As an active, five-year-old who eats healthy food and weighs just 4st 2lb, Cian Attwood had never given his mother cause to worry about his size. So the 27-year-old was surprised and ‘upset’ to receive a letter from the NHS which deemed him ‘obese’. Following tests carried out at Cian’s school, Kriss Hodgson was warned of the dangers her son faced because of his weight, such as cancer and diabetes. http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/03/17/article- 1258614-08C06575000005DC-84_468x678.jpg Obese: Cian Attwood, five, with his mother Kriss Hodgson and sister at the family home in Telford, Shropshire The height and weight test had revealed Cian has a BMI (body mass index) percentile of 99, which was classed as ‘clinically obese’ on the accompanying leaflet – and means he is fatter than 99 per cent of his peers. Ms Hodgson, from Overdale, Shropshire, hit out at the Government campaign to tackle obesity, saying it could cause youngsters to develop eating disorders. She said: ‘He was weighed at school and shortly after I had a letter through the post saying he was clinically obese. ‘They sent me through all sorts of information on diabetes, heart attacks and cancer. ‘But look at him, there's not an ounce of fat on him. ‘It’s getting ridiculous what they are telling children at such a young age - it is damaging to them. I don't want my children to grow up to be anorexic. http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/03/17/article- 1258614-08C1EB74000005DC-315_468x639.jpg The letter mother Kriss Hodgson received from her local NHS ‘They're making everybody think they need to be celebrity size zeros and it’s going to give people eating disorders.’ Cian, who is 3ft 10in tall, is one of thousands of British children having their BMI checked - a system which relates height, weight and age. Single mother of two, Ms Hodgson, added: ‘He is 4st 2lb and apparently for his height he should be between 2st 13lb and 3st 11lb. ‘I find it disgusting because things like this could cause youngsters to go anorexic - it will give them a complex. ‘The school asked whether they could weigh Cian and, of course, I said it was fine. And then it came back saying he was too fat - it’s absolutely ridiculous. ‘It’s quite upsetting in a way because you can't tell my son he is too fat when all he does is run around the garden all day. http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/03/17/article- 1258614-0859849D000005DC-994_235x475.jpg Picture of health: Sports-mad Lucy Davies, five, has been told she risks heart disease ‘He is such an active little child and he doesn't eat a lot. I have to force it down him sometimes. But he likes grapes, peas and sweetcorn and he eats quite healthily.' In February, another five-year-old Lucy Davies, from Dorset, was told she was overweight and vulnerable to high blood pressure - even though she weighs 3st 9lb and is a fit child. Her mother, Susan Davies, 38, said she was shocked by the letter she and husband Tony were sent about their daughter's weight after she had been examined at school as part of a Government initiative. Clare Harland, Senior Health Improvement Manager for, NHS Telford & Wrekin, said: ‘Every year children in Reception and Year 6 are weighed and measured in school as part of the National Child Measurement Programme, which is now in its fifth year. 'The height and weight measurement is carried out by trained staff and the families of any child can opt out. 'After the measurements are taken, letters are sent out to the parents or carers of each child, with details of their child’s height and weight, showing the percentile for the BMI and the weight range. ‘The letters also have information on local services and activities available and encourages families to call a local helpline to find out more.' Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1258614/Mothers- outrage-healthy-year-old-son-weighing-4st-branded-obese- NHS.html#ixzz0iSwmzonN -- Mario Huet Libertarian Alliance Forum List Administrator ********************************************** Words cannot picture her; but all men know That solemn sketch the pure sad artist wrought ********************************************** James Thomson, The City of Dreadful Night __._,_.___ Reply to sender<[email protected]?subject=mother's+outrage+as+healthy+five-year-old+son+weighing+4st+is+branded+obese+by+NHS>| Reply to group<[email protected]?subject=mother's+outrage+as+healthy+five-year-old+son+weighing+4st+is+branded+obese+by+NHS>| Reply via web post<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/libertarian-alliance-forum/post;_ylc=X3oDMTJyNmQ4c3Y1BF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzIyMzcxMjgEZ3Jwc3BJZAMxNzA1MDYwMTY5BG1zZ0lkAzEwNTYwOQRzZWMDZnRyBHNsawNycGx5BHN0aW1lAzEyNjg4NTYyMDA-?act=reply&messageNum=105609>| Start a New Topic<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/libertarian-alliance-forum/post;_ylc=X3oDMTJlcmFhaGFmBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzIyMzcxMjgEZ3Jwc3BJZAMxNzA1MDYwMTY5BHNlYwNmdHIEc2xrA250cGMEc3RpbWUDMTI2ODg1NjIwMA--> Messages in this topic<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/libertarian-alliance-forum/message/105609;_ylc=X3oDMTM4M2Z1cmgwBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzIyMzcxMjgEZ3Jwc3BJZAMxNzA1MDYwMTY5BG1zZ0lkAzEwNTYwOQRzZWMDZnRyBHNsawN2dHBjBHN0aW1lAzEyNjg4NTYyMDAEdHBjSWQDMTA1NjA5>( 1) Recent Activity: Visit Your Group<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/libertarian-alliance-forum;_ylc=X3oDMTJlbGRlZ3Q4BF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzIyMzcxMjgEZ3Jwc3BJZAMxNzA1MDYwMTY5BHNlYwN2dGwEc2xrA3ZnaHAEc3RpbWUDMTI2ODg1NjIwMA--> Subscribe: [email protected] Unsubscribe: [email protected] NB - The Libertarian Alliance does not necessarily approve of the above message. [image: Yahoo! Groups]<http://groups.yahoo.com/;_ylc=X3oDMTJkNnM5Z2owBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzIyMzcxMjgEZ3Jwc3BJZAMxNzA1MDYwMTY5BHNlYwNmdHIEc2xrA2dmcARzdGltZQMxMjY4ODU2MjAw> Switch to: Text-Only<[email protected]?subject=change+delivery+format:+Traditional>, Daily Digest<[email protected]?subject=email+delivery:+Digest>• Unsubscribe<[email protected]?subject=unsubscribe>• Terms of Use <http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/> . __,_._,___ -- Thanks for being part of "PoliticalForum" at Google Groups. For options & help see http://groups.google.com/group/PoliticalForum * Visit our other community at http://www.PoliticalForum.com/ * It's active and moderated. Register and vote in our polls. * Read the latest breaking news, and more.
