Obesity letters spark controversy in childhood obesity debate

[katyblack]

Parents receive all kinds of notifications from their children’s schools: grade reports, truancy and tardiness statistics, behavior accounts, etc. One letter you probably wouldn’t expect is what some have christened the “fat letter.” It is school’s most recent tool in the war they wage on childhood obesity.

Obesity as a serious threat

More than just a recurring nuisance, childhood obesity is a serious threat to the rising generation’s health. It is linked with a number of serious conditions in childhood and adulthood and, according to Michael Flaherty, pediatric resident physician in the department of pediatrics at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield, Mass., it threatens to reduce kids’ life expectancy. “Obesity is an epidemic in our country,” he said, “and one that is compromising the health and life expectancy of our children. We must embrace any way possible to raise awareness of these concerns and to bring down the stigmas associated with obesity so that our children may grow to lead healthy adult lives.”

The statistics are sobering. Today, the number of kids classified as obese is three times that of the number in 1980. As obesity numbers rise, other problems do as well, including heart disease, sleep apnea, joint issues, and asthma.

Schools collect health information

There are now 21 states that mandate weight screening. Schools are required to collect information on students’ height, weight, and/or BMI. Some, but not all of these states, also require parents be notified of the weight screening results. Some parents think the “fat letter” policy is taking legislation too far. They believe schools shouldn’t be allowed to intrude into such private matters. There are worries that should the information get out, kids will be bullied or develop eating disorders.

Dr. Flaherty, however, thinks a change in policy would be a mistake because, “The growing number of children and adolescents seen day in and day out in our clinics with hypertension, high cholesterol, diabetes, and musculoskeletal issues secondary to weight do not lie.”

Letters need to do more

Another doctor, Dr. David Dunkin, assistant professor of pediatric gastroenterology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City, believes the letters are a good idea, but one that is implemented ineffectually. He believes it would be better if the letter was accompanied with a recommendation for programs that would help the students make the necessary lifestyle changes.

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Source: www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_139942.html

Public health is not a private matter. We have several interventions to monitor and prevent ill health in the UK. What's your point?

In UK, there has been a weighing and measuring programme in schools since the 1940s and it has provided vital information to public health officials (from tacking post-war malnutrition to establishing extent of obesity problem now).

It's only since the 00s that parents were informed of their individual child's measurements, and the letter includes signposts to organisations which can help parents who are worried.

My dc are in the minority in their peer group being 'skinny'. They both eat healthily, are very active, were both breastfed beyond a year. Most children around them vary from 'puppy fat' to obese.

I often see babies who can't even sit up supported yet being fed huge baby jars of food & similarly pre schoolers with sweets & chocolates & yoghurt covered fruit flakes everyday in their lunchboxes. So unhealthy!

My kids are going to grow up in the minority being skinny. Scary thought.

My dd2 is officially "overweight" (though dd1 is bang on and ds is underweight, though how, with the amount he seems to inhale from the fridge at 11yo ill never know!).

Dd2 had 4 years of very restricted physical activity as her hip condition meant she could only minimally weigh bear. She could swim, and did so 4x a week, so good now that she's competing.

She's still overweight as she spent a lot of time with no exercise.

I'd really be unhappy with a letter like this.

We had the fat letter when my son was weighed at eleven. These letter rarely tell parents something they don't know or tell them where they can get help.

I have two children and one of them is skinny and the other one is fat. Both of them were breastfed until two. I am not sure where I have gone wrong with my oldest. Ds had problems with physical development like Weegiemum daughter. I feel that such chidlren need compassion and support to be more active.

The problem is so many get the letters, read them and decide no their child isn't overweight and carry on rather than seeing it as a chance to evaluate eating and exercise habits.

As a nation we seem to be very accepting of children being overweight, with the children who are normal weight being deemed as "too skinny". Off the NHS BMI checker for children DS is on the 28th centile which is perfect yet people often comment how skinny he is, and all his clothes need to have adjustable waists!

"The problem is so many get the letters, read them and decide no their child isn't overweight and carry on rather than seeing it as a chance to evaluate eating and exercise habits. "

How can this be done without help? Sending a letter saying that your precious child is fat is not constructive unless help is offered. It is not so simple to just put an overweight child on a diet because a growing child needs fats, proteins and a good balance of fruit, veg, carbohydrates etc. If a parent decides to restrict their child's intake without professional help then they risk their child's health. Quick diets are damaging for a child and do not give good long term results. Families need support to make life changes that is tailored to the individual family.

Our GP has refused to refer my child to a dietitan. What are parents supposed to do?

Is it really that hard to think "well they should eat less of that and more of this" or "we need to be more active"

Has the health of the nation really got that bad?

Yes some people will need further support and that should be offered in those cases but most people can see where the issues come from it is a case of making the changes to lifestyle to encourage the better diet and more exercise.

"Is it really that hard to think "well they should eat less of that and more of this" or "we need to be more active"

So why is it that I have two children. One who is skinny as a rake and one who is overweight. If I had two children who were both overweight then I could understand. I feed them the same diet and both have chances to do exercise.

I have parented both my children exactly the same. One child is very slim and atheletic and the other is overweight. I am like my daughter in that I can eat whatever I like and remain skinny. My son just has to look at food and he puts on weight. My husband also puts on weight easily. Why?

Sirzy Unless you have actually helped an overweight child lose weight then I feel you have nothing constructive to offer to the dicussion.

It is understandable that parents will not engage with negative and nasty people who do not take the time to try and understand the problem. Blaming obesity on bad parenting is very bit as unfair as blaming dyslexia on parenting.

Really there has to be some body shape down to genetics.

My IL's have all (except dh) got weight problems. They also eat huge portions, their idea of watching their weight is to have a slightly smaller pudding and exercise is what happens when you walk from the car to the lift...
But their body shape is naturally bigger than my side of the family. If they were as thin as some of my relatives they would be ill, probably badly.

So in my dc:
Dd1 takes after IL. She isn't naturally skinny, I am sometimes (quietly) careful about what she eats. So I might happen not to have cream to go on pudding when she asks, and encourage her to have fruit when hungry for a snack. She's a fussy child, and will not eat rather than eat something she doesn't like (she's like me in that) and isn't overweight by any means. But she is what my granny would call "nicely covered". She exercises slightly more than dd2, and eats considerably less.

Dd2 is the definition of a line-all length no width. She eats and eats and eats. I don't think she would become even tubby without a lot of work.

Some people just seem to burn up the food, and others pack it on. In days gone by, people would have envied those who packed it on-they were more likely to survive lean times. So maybe it is evolution that people are getting bigger-the bigger people were more likely to survive!