News and Opinion
There are stories relating to obesity breaking around the world every day. The stories below are those where journalists haver sought NOF opnion/quotes or summaries of research on which NOF may have a view. Where possible the source of the stories are identified by the newspaper banner or a URL in red.
NOF Opinion will always be identified in italics.
No point in telling parents about children’s weight?
- Details
- Published on Wednesday, 20 July 2011
A US study has found that children whose parents were told that they were overweight were no more likely to lose weight than parents who were not told. The study’s conclusion is that perhaps school should concentrate efforts on making sure that lunches were healthier and increased use of physical activity.
[Archives of Pediatric Adolescent Medicine: Aug 2001]
The biggest flaw in the study is that the schools did not tell the parents that their child was “ overweight “ or “ obese “ but simply gave them its BMI. Since parents in general have little concept of BMI, is it any surprise if they gave the letters scant attention? To compound the issue, the authors also state that, since the letters were sent home c/o child, they may never have been delivered in the first place!