Natasha Hill, from Blaenavon, Wales, received a letter from the Aneurin Bevan University Health Board school nursing team last week regarding her daughter Willow-Iris Hill’s weight
A mum has been left “dismayed” after receiving a ‘cruel’ letter from a health board that claimed her daughter is ‘overweight’. Natasha Hill from Blaenavon, Wales, was shocked when she got a note from the Aneurin Bevan University Health Board’s school nursing team about her five year old daughter Willow-Iris Hill, who is in reception, flagging concerns about the child’s weight.
The correspondence from the health board informed Natasha that her daughter stood 112cm tall and weighed 22.6kg. The school nursing team’s message read: “The results suggest that your child’s weight is above the healthy weight range for their age, sex, and height,” followed by recommendations to visit certain websites for advice on nutrition and healthy living.
Despite Willow-Iris’s active lifestyle, which includes gymnastics training twice a week, performing arts, dancing, and swimming sessions, Natasha pointed out that those conducting the assessment didn’t take these activities into account, according to WalesOnline.
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The young girl was given a body-mass index (BMI) score that classified her as slightly overweight following the health board’s routine visit to her school to measure the height and weight of reception-aged children, a common practice in the UK.
But Natasha argued the letter she received following Willow-Iris’ measurements was insensitive and the matter could have been handled better – and said she believes the process is flawed. Natasha added: “While I acknowledge that BMI is a standard measure of body mass index I find it troubling that a child can be classified in this way.
“According to the data Willow is only 2% over her ideal weight yet the labelling as overweight feels entirely unjust. Willow leads a very active and healthy lifestyle for a five-year-old. She trains twice a week in gymnastics, dances, swims, and attends performing arts classes.
“My husband and I are committed to providing her with nutritious meals and ensuring she has a balanced lifestyle. I’m genuinely distressed by the apparent lack of research or consideration involved in how my child has been evaluated.”
Now, Natasha believes Public Health Wales and individual health boards need to reflect on how they are informed of their child’s health. “I am encouraging a reflection on the criteria used for these assessments,” she said.
“For example if one child spends all day at the computer consuming sugary snacks yet has a smaller frame they might seem to fall within a healthy range. Yet another child who is very active but has a larger build is unfairly labelled as overweight. The system seems fundamentally flawed and it highlights the potential serious consequences for a child’s self-image and mental health.”
In Wales, the child measurement programme is overseen by Public Health Wales. This initiative measures the height and weight of reception class children across the country, reports Wales Online. The aim, according to Public Health Wales, is to understand how Welsh children are growing, It helps to enable NHS Wales to better plan and deliver health services across its regions.
A spokesperson for Public Health Wales said it couldn’t comment on individual cases and said: “The role of Public Health Wales is to collate Child Measurement Programme data at all Wales level for publication at population level, for example at health board level.
“Public Health Wales does not publish data on individual children. The Child Measurement Programme data is available on our website.”