In an attempt to tackle the problem of children who are overweight, the National Child Measurement programme, an anti obesity campaign, will contact the parents of children as young as four years old to try and prevent child obesity and the problems which are associated with it.

In 2005 the campaign was implemented by Sheffield who last year sent letters out to the parents of ten and eleven year olds with details of their height and weight. This will be repeated this year when letters will again be issued with the results of height and weight tests.

The scheme will now be introduced to other areas of the United Kingdom, targeting the parents of children as young as four years old in an attempt to raise awareness of the problems associated with child obesity as well as to introduce a weight management programme with information to help the parents.

The campaign which is currently taking place in Sheffield is run by NHS Sheffield’s Children and Young Peoples Public Health Team in conjunction with the School Nursing Service. It has been emphasised that the anti obesity campaign is not being introduced to place blame on parents or to target individuals, but to raise awareness of health and social issues for children who are obese as well as giving parents the support and advice they require in order to make changes.

One parent of two children under five who wishes to remain anonymous has expressed her anger at such a scheme saying:

For someone to decide my children are overweight is extremely offensive

as well as adding:

What right have they to stigmatise my children at such an early age?

It remains to be seen whether this is a view shared by other parents as the campaign appears set to be introduced to the rest of the United Kingdom in an attempt to prevent child obesity.