Serious Subject Sunday

14st 13lb. I didn't get punished for the Chelsea bun. Thank you God. I promise never to see the dreaded 15st ever again. I will continue on a positive note.

This morning, I got up early (why is it when you can have a lie in, you need a wee at an unearthly hour and can't get back to sleep?). Anyway, I decided to put an order into a well known supermarket but couldn't remember my password (it is over 5 years since I last shopped on line) so I had to wait for them to email it to me. So I did a big pile of ironing while I waited, then put the order in, then made a large chocolate mousse and pasta salad for family party, then had quick shower and went to church to thank god for, among other far more relevant things, helping me stick to my diet (I wonder how many other worshippers are that shallow - surely peace in the world, end to famine etc are more pressing - I do go there too).

Well, while I was ironing I had the morning news on (sadly too early for my beloved Andrew Marr - what is it about him? The ears?). One of the discussions was about childhood obesity and how they are going to tackle it via schools. They brought up the subject of how children are now weighed and measured in school and a letter sent out to parents giving the results. This letter comes from the NHS PCT and is sent to the parent. However, you and I know what children are like - they chat between themselves and my daughter was asking me last week if I had had such a letter as her friends had. I denied all knowledge of it. The reason for this is that she is a very lovely 11 year old, who has changed out of all recognition in the past 6 months. She is by far the tallest in her year group, is fairly athletic and lean. However, the letter says in bold type across the middle that she is very overweight for her age and sex. She is actually 1lb into the very overweight category and I don't for the life of me know why. I have asked various friends (who would be blunt!) if they think she is and am met with a resounding "God no, she's perfect" - I am not "ostriching" on this one. She is already showing too much of an interest in her weight and gets the scales out with worrying frequency - at such a vulnerable age, when their bodies are changing and they are self conscious, I would hate to think of the psychological effect of her seeing that stark very overweight analysis of her body. She is as fit as a flea, always on the move and fits standard clothes for her age.
The paragraph underneath the analysis reads as follows:
"Being very overweight can affect your child's health. Children who are very overweight are more likely to develop diabetes and high blood pressure. As adults, they are more likely to have high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease and cancer. People who are very overweight are more likely to suffer poor health and die earlier than people who are a healthy weight."
Christ, if she read that she'd be half way to an eating disorder before you could throw out the biscuits! I think it is very poorly worded and badly thought out and, frankly, I was horrified.
It goes on to say that the leaflet enclosed gives tips to help your family eat well and be active.

However, what is to be done? I fully agree with the doctor discussing it this morning, that something has to be done as we are heading for an explosion of health problems in very young people. It is a massive challenge to tackle it without shattering the self esteem of those vulnerable children. Do you take the bull by the horns, tell the child they are too big and that they are endangering their future health. Do you highlight their problem and make them attend a "fat camp" style health club at school? My daughter would have been mortified. Would a direct telephone call to the parent be a better method, offering constructive support and advice, rather than a scare tactic letter and leaflet? Or am I just being horribly civilised?

It is about the same as going to the doctor's, being prescribed Orlistat and told to get a repeat prescription from reception when you need one - where is the specialist dietary advice, support and back up in that?

I don't envy the health professionals that have to address these issues but I have to admit to being blazing about the method employed with regards to children to date.

Happier blog tomorrow I promise!

E xx