Mother"s fury as NHS warns son is at risk of obesity despite strict diet

By

Paul Donnelley

|

An angry mother has criticised the NHS after she was told that her four-year-old could face obesity problems despite him having serious dietary issues.

Kirsty Shedlock’s son Jack has been in and out of hospital since birth with swollen bowels, causing his weight to fluctuate.

Angry: Jack Shedlock’s mother Kirsty is furious that her local NHS have warned her he could be at risk of becoming obese even though he is on a special diet because of a bowel condition

The Chadderton boy, who goes to St Luke’s Primary School, has to follow a strict diet to control the problem.

Four-year-old Jack Shedlock has had swollen bowels since birth

Kirsty, 26, was shocked when she was told the news after Jack was weighed and measured as part of a scheme with Oldham Community Health Service.

She said: ‘The first thing I knew was when I received a letter saying he was overweight and was more likely to be obese when he grew up.

‘I wouldn’t mind if he was eating loads of rubbish but he is on a strict diet because of his health problems.

‘I’ve asked them to take him off their database but they have refused. I’m appalled, it’s disgusting. It’s my little boy who’s suffering.’

Marie Forshaw, Oldham Community Health Service director at Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust, said: ‘Children are routinely weighed and measured but all parents are given the opportunity to opt out if they wish.

‘We apologise for any distress caused.’

Kirsty said: ‘They said you had to sign the letter if you didn’t want it to happen, but it should be the other way around. It’s quite sneaky I think.’

Ian Walsh, the headmaster at St Luke’s, said that the letters were written by the health authority and merely handed out by the school.

Comments (16)

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Quidnunc,

England,

1 hour ago

She ignored the opt out letter – so why not ignore this one too. Every few weeks we have some parent complaining about the screening program. There will always be some medical exceptions – but for the majority of children it is wake up call to their parents to treat their diets more seriously than they do, if they can afford it.

the minority have,

the biggest say, Falkland Islands,

1 hour ago

everything should be opt in but they will never do it

the minority have,

the biggest say, Falkland Islands,

1 hour ago

everything should be opt in but they will never do it

HD33,

London, United Kingdom,

1 hour ago

“calm down, dear”

HD33,

London, United Kingdom,

1 hour ago

CALM DOWN, DEAR!

BD,

NEWCASTLE, United Kingdom,

1 hour ago

We should never have to opt out of anything and should be asked to opt in !!!!!

BUCK37,

Cambridge, United Kingdom,

1 hour ago

Poor child is not over weight looking from the photo! Give the poor child a chance it is not his fault he has very serious health problems ! Good Luck to him his Mum.

BUCK37,

Cambridge, United Kingdom,

1 hour ago

Poor child is not over weight looking from the photo! Give the poor child a chance it is not his fault he has very serious health problems ! Good Luck to him his Mum.

BUCK37,

Cambridge, United Kingdom,

1 hour ago

Poor child is not over weight looking from the photo! Give the poor child a chance it is not his fault he has very serious health problems ! Good Luck to him his Mum.

Gamalei,

Kent, United Kingdom,

1 hour ago

Tired of this obesity witchhunt! Look at someone. You can see if they are overweight. Be done with this BMI and obsessive weighing. One second we are being told that people are being given low body image by society… the next we are watching people scream FAT at a child who obviously isn’t. It is tiring. Where did common sense go?

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Mother"s fury as NHS warns son is at risk of obesity despite strict diet