to think these people are in denial about their children's weight?

[Sops]

Our childrens' reception class has just been weighed and measured and we have had letters home telling us the results.
Yesterday two other mums asked me where how my ds scored (81st percentile) saying that of their two, one was 'on the top percentile of overweight' and the other obese. I made non-committal noises at this, and just said that they both looked pretty average to me, and in the end both mothers agreed that really it meant absolutely nothing and neither of the children really had a weight problem and they weren't 'going to take any notice of it'.
Is it just me, but if my children were assessed as overweight/obese at five I would be taking a long hard look at our lifestyle and making some significant changes.
Are they right to ignore it or should they take action?

Exactly, Giddypickle. Average is getting closer and closer to overweight. Not there yet, before I get jumped on!

So, if they used up to date centile charts, the underweight category, which should be the same weight as before, would now be, maybe, below the 1st centile, so that's why they stick to the old charts. It's just a bit misleading to call them centile charts, when children on the 50th centile according to the charts, are actually no longer 'average.'

Ugh, I remember being weighed in school and recall being mocked for being one of the heavier girls and told that I weighed as much as a boy in the class above. I must have been about 6 or so I think. I'm 35 now and it clearly still niggles. I wasn't a fat kid but was taller than my classmates. I don't think that they used the BMI back then.

Are the kids made aware of their weights in comparison with their peer group when they're weighed these days? It seems to be quite the opportunity for bullying.

No, it should be done privately and the information only goes to the parents.

4 of my DC are skinny and look like they could do with a good feed. My middle child is starting to look abit chubby and definitely is going to be the one to watch with regards to weight.
All of them eat the same foods (I know this because they aren't old enough to sneak to the local shops and pig out behind my back) and get the same exercise as they go out the front together to play.
And yet I still have one who is definitely struggling with weight (not that I tell her!)and 4 who aren't.

My daughter is 'dangerously' underweight. Yet she eats a balanced diet and has plenty (but not too much) exercise.

I ignored the letter. In fact, I had a phone call from the school nurse to tell me to ignore the letter before it was even received.

GooseyLoosey - they measure height and weight to calculate the BMI - a number which apparently determines how healthy the subject of measurement is