Warwickshire Childhood Obesity panel wants to talk tough to parents – Northern Warwickshire figures
Warwickshire’s Child Obesity Panel has reacted to plans to contact parents of overweight and obese children with calls for straightforward language to tackle the issue.
The Department of Health (DoH) is urging PCTs to send all parents information on their child’s height and weight and body mass index and highlight any children who are very overweight and the physical dangers that the child is at risk from. However, plans to send all parents in England data on their children’s body mass index (BMI) have been criticised by Tam Fry, an obesity expert, for lacking bite.
Central to his criticism is the reluctance of the Department of Health to use the term ‘obese’ about children, as it would risk alienating parents and creating a stigma around the initiative.
However, members of Warwickshire’s panel which comprises representatives of the county council, the PCT, NHS trust and district and borough councils have been calling for greater involvement of parents in the health of their child and welcome tough talking initiatives that clearly drive the message home.
Cllr Tony Dixon, who was chair of the panel when it called for parents to be overruled if they did not want their child weighed and measured, agreed with the principle but wanted to see clear messages in the information parents received. He said:
“The child obesity panel recommended that all children in reception and year 6 classes be measured and the results given to panels.
“I support the views expressed by Tam Fry when he recommends using the word ‘obese’. If it is not used, some parents would believe their child to be ‘very overweight’ and not actually ‘obese’.
“Those parents with overweight and obese children should have help lines and advice included with details of their child’s weight and, ideally, the PCT will follow up such children after perhaps six to twelve months to ensure the problem is not ignored.”
Cllr Izzi Seccombe portfolio holder with Warwickshire County Council for children, young people and families agreed with the sentiment although she acknowledged the delicate nature of the subject and looked for a gentle approach.
“Our research shows that parents want to be informed of their children’s height and weight and notified clearly if there is any cause for alarm so we should do this.
“It is obviously a delicate subject but if this information were presented with a bit of fun and imagination, and we have the expertise at hand to do this, families could take the lead in creating healthy lifestyles for themselves through food management and exercise regimes.”
Being overweight is defined by Body Mass Index (BMI). It is calculated by dividing weight (in kilograms) by height squared (in metres). Because of the complexities of their growing bodies, it is impossible to measure children in this manner. Instead they are compared to their peers with anybody over the 91st centile being classed as overweight and any child above the 98th centile classed as obese.
In Northern Warwickshire 12.9% of all children at reception age (4-5 years) are overweight with 7.8% recognised as obese. The figures rise to 13% of all children in year 6 (age 10-11 years) being overweight from studies in 2006.
An article illustrating Mr ry’s concerns is available at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7541279.stm