Sporty boy branded ‘borderline obese’

health bosses were facing criticism last night after they sent a letter to the mother of a sports-mad 10-year-old claiming he was overweight.

Beccy Hewson was told that her son Kai, who is the leading scorer for his football team and also boxes four times a week, was at risk from cancer, diabetes or heart disease. Kai, who trains and plays twice a week, was weighed along with other year six pupils as part of the National Child Measurement Programme.

The youngster is 4ft 9in, weighs 6st 10lb, meaning he has a body mass index of 94 per cent which medics said was bordering on obese.

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Mrs Hewson, 49, of Lindholme, Doncaster, said: “I think it’s disgusting that this test can decide whether your child is overweight or not without taking other factors into consideration.

“Since the test Kai is questioning what he is eating although he has a healthy diet. I think it’s frightening for parents and children to be told there
is a risk of cancer or heart disease.”

Rotherham Doncaster and South Humber NHS Foundation have now apologised to Mrs Hewson, whose son attends Doncaster’s Hatfield Woohouse Primary School.

A spokesman said: “I apologise if we have upset the family of
this young boy and would encourage his mother to contact our school nurse team so they can discuss the information in the letter.”

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