Fears over plans to weigh secondary kids
The news has sparked concern from eating disorder charities who say forcing youngsters to get on to the scales could destroy people’s self- esteem and actually see them gain weight. The move – currently being considered by the Scottish Government – would see teachers checking up on the pupils’ BMI ( body mass index) in order to feed information back to ministers.
It comes as official figures, published by the Scottish Government this week, revealed nearly a third of children in Scotland were at risk of being overweight or obese and that 250,000 people had Type 2 diabetes.
Ministers think more weight data would help them understand how obesity develops in young people, but charities insist the new regime risks triggering mental health issues.
One charity, Beat, said the government should aim to support young people rather than place them under the microscope.
A s p o k e s m an sa i d : “Eating disorders are complex and there is no one single cause.
“It is of co u r s e important that children’s health is monitored regularly but r e g u l ar we i g h i n g , unless done sensitively, responsibly and privately may damage their confidence and risk lowering their selfesteem which is often fragile at this age.
“We live in a world seemingly obsessed with thinness. Some people think that they fail to meet that so- called ideal and can end up blaming themselves in ways that lead to a vicious circle – lower esteem and further weight gain.
“It would be preferable if the authorities gave more time and
Kids at high schools could have to be weighed to tackle obesity problem. effort to supporting extremely serious problem across children’s weight is looked at while young people with all age groups, and the Scottish at primary school and through the emotional difficulties Government is right to look at what Scottish Health Survey. rather than concenrole secondary schools could play. “The review of our Diet and trating on the scales.” “But we also have to be acutely Obesity Strategy next year will proAs it stands, the weight of aware of the consequences too vide an opportunity to consider if children is measured at primary much intervention can have. these programmes are sufficient.” school and via the Scottish Health “The last thing an obese teenager In written evidence to the Survey, but the Government is lookneeds is a teacher flagging up their Scottish Government’s Health and ing at extending monitoring to weight in a classroom full of peers, Sport Committee, the charity older children. and I suspect the teachers themCancer Research suggested that
Scottish Conservative shadow selves wouldn’t be too keen on that primary schoolchildren should be health secretary Donald Cameron approach either.” weighed in both P1 and P6. said adopting the policy would also A Scottish Government spokesIts statistics showed that more place pressure on teachers at a time woman said the decision was not than 10% of children in Scotland when the education sector is strugyet set in stone but would form part started primary school overweight gling to recruit. of a review next year. or obese between 2005/ 06 and
He said: “Obesity is becoming an Sh e said: “At the mome n t 2014/15. Write to Sunday Post, 80 Kingsway East, Dundee DD48SL or email