Fat-Shaming A Child: Is It Ever OK?
A mum has slammed her local council after it labelled her daughter overweight. [Photo: SWNS]
A mum has been left fuming after her daughter was labelled overweight at the age of four.
Chloe, now five, was assessed at Probus Community Primary School in Cornwall as part of the National Child Measurement programme (NCMP).
The programme records the height and weight of children in reception class and year six, and the resulting data is used to calculate each child’s Body Mass Index (BMI).
While this indicates whether a child is carrying “too much weight”, it does not distinguish between excess fat, bone and muscle.
Chloe’s mum Kelly Pedlar, 35, was shocked to receive a letter from Cornwall Council’s public health team, which co-ordinates the programme, saying Chloe was classified in the “overweight” bracket.
She said: "To put a label on a four-year-old like that is just disgusting.
"If Chloe ever found out it could cause other problems, such as anorexia.
"At this age it’s just puppy fat, although I don’t believe you could say she’s fat.”
Kelly is worried that being labelled overweight as a child could lead to anorexia. [Photo: SWNS]
Kelly, who also has sons aged 16 and eight, said Chloe fits into clothes for youngsters her age and she cooks a balanced diet for her children, proportioned to their ages.
She added: “They don’t have lots of snacks in between meals. They eat the right things.
“It has made me feel I should cut back some of her food, give her even smaller portions.
"I’m questioning myself. At four they should be allowed to be children. If she was morbidly obese, didn’t fit into her clothes, I would understand it.”
Shevaughan Tolputt, of Cornwall Council’s public health team, said the programme was designed to help identify children at risk of developing health problems.
She said: “Being overweight or obese in childhood has consequences for health in both the short term and the longer term.
"Once established, obesity is notoriously difficult to treat, so prevention and doing something early on are very important.
"Obese children and young people are more likely to become obese adults, and have a higher risk of ill health, disability and early death in adulthood.
"We are always willing to listen to parents feedback, and our contact details are included in the letter sent home, so that they can get in touch over individual concerns.”
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