Schools criticised for ‘fat shaming’ overweight children

A report conducted by Olympian James Cracknell has called on schools to stop ‘fat shaming’ overweight children and instead provide helpful advise on losing weight.

The report suggested that teachers voicing their concerns about overweight pupils in letters to parents, could contribute to other physical and mental health illnesses such as anorexia. It recommended that schools should instead introduce measures to encourage more sleep, physical exercise and provide nutritious meals.

According to statistics, ten per cent of children are obese by the time they begin primary school, however 20 per cent are obese by the time they leave. Figures also show that the incidence of children developing Type 2 diabetes, of which obesity is a major contributing factor, has doubled compared to 20 years ago.

Cracknell also maintained that the sugar tax is ‘on balance a sensible intervention to help prevent the rise in obesity, especially among children’, but warned it should not be perceived as a ’magic bullet’ that would solve the obesity crisis.