Too fat to adopt?
Discussion
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7823707.stm
A couple of porkers have been told they are too fat to adopt (probably because they'd fatten up any unfortunate they adopted). The bloke is claiming he's not a couch potato or anything, but clearly is too lazy to just think "sod it, i'll go to the gym, lose 2 stone, reapply".
There is also a video, featuring 2 acres of neck, and a woman that resembles that peter kay character from the x factor thing.
class
A couple of porkers have been told they are too fat to adopt (probably because they'd fatten up any unfortunate they adopted). The bloke is claiming he's not a couch potato or anything, but clearly is too lazy to just think "sod it, i'll go to the gym, lose 2 stone, reapply".
There is also a video, featuring 2 acres of neck, and a woman that resembles that peter kay character from the x factor thing.
class
bbc somewhere said:
A couple from Leeds have been told they cannot adopt because one of them is too fat.
Damien and Charlotte Hall cannot have children of their own, so they approached Leeds City Council about adopting a child.
They were told Mr Hall's weight, at 24.5 stone (156kg), made him morbidly obese with a body mass index, or BMI, of more than 42.
In a letter, the council told them his BMI must be below 40 before they could be considered as potential parents, because there was a risk he could become ill or even die.
Charlotte, 31, who works as a nanny, has been married to Damien, 37, for 11 years and they have been a couple for 14. Mr Hall works in a call centre and, at 6ft 1in, says he knows he is overweight.
"It's hard to lose weight under pressure, " he told BBC Radio 5 Live.
"I'm not a couch potato and I don't sit eating takeaways every night. The bottom line is I'm too fat
Damien Hall
"I just feel as though we were only judged on my weight and not all the other good things about us. We don't drink or smoke and we could give a child a happy and safe home."
The letter the couple were sent by Leeds City Council, signed by a team manager and seen by the BBC said: "I am writing to confirm that we are unable to progress an application from you at this time.
"This is due to the concerns that the medical advisers have expressed regarding Mr Hall's weight.
"I have discussed this with our medical adviser... who considers that it is important to alter lifestyle, diet and exercise in a sustainable way so that any weight reduction can be maintained in the long term.
It went on: "I understand that you would like to begin the assessment as soon as possible and while appreciating your reasons for this, I consider it would be more appropriate to begin the assessment once Mr Hall's BMI is below 40."
Child in care
Mrs Hall said they were very shocked when they received the letter. "I think it's just gutting. We had an inkling they'd say something about (his) weight but to be turned down flatly just on that, it's just harsh.
"My husband has a full-time job and is very active. He walks our dog at least twice a day and doesn't feel unfit or unwell.
The council's adoption service has a legal responsibility to ensure that children are placed with adopters who are able to provide the best possible lifelong care
Leeds City Council
"You've got a child in care who's going to get up tomorrow morning not knowing where it's going and we're here ready to take a child on. They seem to be saying it's better for them to be in care and being shoved from pillar to post just in case Damien dies."
Mr Hall added: "The bottom line is I'm too fat. We don't know if there will be any other blocking factors, because that letter is just a reaction to a medical we had which said I'm healthy but overweight."
The Department for Children, Schools and Families said it does not issue guidance on maximum weight for adopters to local authorities.
In a statement, Leeds City Council said: "The council's adoption service has a legal responsibility to ensure that children are placed with adopters who are able to provide the best possible lifelong care.
"Part of this responsibility is advice for applicants on a range of suitability criteria, including any health and lifestyle issues which may impact on an applicant's long-term ability to adopt.
"Expert advice on health and medical issues for applicants is provided by medical advisors to the council's adoption service, in line with BAAF (British Agencies Adoption and Fostering) guidance.
"Mr and Mrs Hall's application to adopt is still active and they have been given advice on how best to proceed regarding this issue."
Damien and Charlotte Hall cannot have children of their own, so they approached Leeds City Council about adopting a child.
They were told Mr Hall's weight, at 24.5 stone (156kg), made him morbidly obese with a body mass index, or BMI, of more than 42.
In a letter, the council told them his BMI must be below 40 before they could be considered as potential parents, because there was a risk he could become ill or even die.
Charlotte, 31, who works as a nanny, has been married to Damien, 37, for 11 years and they have been a couple for 14. Mr Hall works in a call centre and, at 6ft 1in, says he knows he is overweight.
"It's hard to lose weight under pressure, " he told BBC Radio 5 Live.
"I'm not a couch potato and I don't sit eating takeaways every night. The bottom line is I'm too fat
Damien Hall
"I just feel as though we were only judged on my weight and not all the other good things about us. We don't drink or smoke and we could give a child a happy and safe home."
The letter the couple were sent by Leeds City Council, signed by a team manager and seen by the BBC said: "I am writing to confirm that we are unable to progress an application from you at this time.
"This is due to the concerns that the medical advisers have expressed regarding Mr Hall's weight.
"I have discussed this with our medical adviser... who considers that it is important to alter lifestyle, diet and exercise in a sustainable way so that any weight reduction can be maintained in the long term.
It went on: "I understand that you would like to begin the assessment as soon as possible and while appreciating your reasons for this, I consider it would be more appropriate to begin the assessment once Mr Hall's BMI is below 40."
Child in care
Mrs Hall said they were very shocked when they received the letter. "I think it's just gutting. We had an inkling they'd say something about (his) weight but to be turned down flatly just on that, it's just harsh.
"My husband has a full-time job and is very active. He walks our dog at least twice a day and doesn't feel unfit or unwell.
The council's adoption service has a legal responsibility to ensure that children are placed with adopters who are able to provide the best possible lifelong care
Leeds City Council
"You've got a child in care who's going to get up tomorrow morning not knowing where it's going and we're here ready to take a child on. They seem to be saying it's better for them to be in care and being shoved from pillar to post just in case Damien dies."
Mr Hall added: "The bottom line is I'm too fat. We don't know if there will be any other blocking factors, because that letter is just a reaction to a medical we had which said I'm healthy but overweight."
The Department for Children, Schools and Families said it does not issue guidance on maximum weight for adopters to local authorities.
In a statement, Leeds City Council said: "The council's adoption service has a legal responsibility to ensure that children are placed with adopters who are able to provide the best possible lifelong care.
"Part of this responsibility is advice for applicants on a range of suitability criteria, including any health and lifestyle issues which may impact on an applicant's long-term ability to adopt.
"Expert advice on health and medical issues for applicants is provided by medical advisors to the council's adoption service, in line with BAAF (British Agencies Adoption and Fostering) guidance.
"Mr and Mrs Hall's application to adopt is still active and they have been given advice on how best to proceed regarding this issue."
bbc somewhere said:
The Department for Children, Schools and Families said it does not issue guidance on maximum weight for adopters to local authorities.
In a statement, Leeds City Council said: "Fact: Fat people are kiddie-fiddlers - End of."
That's very harsh, and possibly a generalisation.In a statement, Leeds City Council said: "Fact: Fat people are kiddie-fiddlers - End of."
aciddrop616 said:
this makes me sick, im adopted, and from what i can see of that couple i wouldnt mind to have been adopted by them, they seem genuine enough. just another thing showing the countries going to s
t
I dunno, don't you think that greedy fat bloke might of tried to eat you? What if he sat on you? It's just not safe for the children being around fatties like him.tIt's probably O.K. to be adopted by someone a bit fat as they're usually quite jolly sorts aren't they? You don't want to be adopted by someone too skinny as they're probably really stingy and miserable. The only O.K. really skinny types would be the supermodels, they're a right laugh.
24.5 stone? What a fat f
ker!
There's an interesting principle beyond the clinical risks here surely?
Parenting (or rather, -good parenting) is all about selflessness, commitment, and 'doing the right thing' when the time comes.
If you're that committed to adoption and having kids, -diet for a year and lose 6/7 stone. Perfectly achievable and hardly purgatory.
If you can't be arsed, then that doesn't bode well.
Parenting (or rather, -good parenting) is all about selflessness, commitment, and 'doing the right thing' when the time comes.
If you're that committed to adoption and having kids, -diet for a year and lose 6/7 stone. Perfectly achievable and hardly purgatory.
If you can't be arsed, then that doesn't bode well.
Jdavis said:
definate discrimination on the part of leeds council.
what do they class as the perfect weight/size. take it is classed on BMI index. if so i'd be unable to adopt if need be. 25yr old, 5'10 15.5 stone due to muscular build.
who is perfect?
Your BMI is only 31.1 what do they class as the perfect weight/size. take it is classed on BMI index. if so i'd be unable to adopt if need be. 25yr old, 5'10 15.5 stone due to muscular build.
who is perfect?
That fat arse was told he'd be able to adopt if he got his BMI under 40. He needs to drop just under 3 stone which for someone that size I expect would go quite quickly.
Isn't he better off going on a diet and doing some exercise that complaining from his sofa?
Edited by el stovey on Monday 12th January 12:36
Jdavis said:
definate discrimination on the part of leeds council.
what do they class as the perfect weight/size. take it is classed on BMI index. if so i'd be unable to adopt if need be. 25yr old, 5'10 15.5 stone due to muscular build.
who is perfect?
You're in a tiny minority of those with high muscle mass. For vast majority, BMI is a reasonable -but not perfect, predictor of risk. what do they class as the perfect weight/size. take it is classed on BMI index. if so i'd be unable to adopt if need be. 25yr old, 5'10 15.5 stone due to muscular build.
who is perfect?
Anyway, do you really think they'd look at you (in your tiger stripe lycra presumably) and say 'unhealthy porker?'. Unlikely.
captainzep said:
There's an interesting principle beyond the clinical risks here surely?
Parenting (or rather, -good parenting) is all about selflessness, commitment, and 'doing the right thing' when the time comes.
If you're that committed to adoption and having kids, -diet for a year and lose 6/7 stone. Perfectly achievable and hardly purgatory.
If you can't be arsed, then that doesn't bode well.
Parenting (or rather, -good parenting) is all about selflessness, commitment, and 'doing the right thing' when the time comes.
If you're that committed to adoption and having kids, -diet for a year and lose 6/7 stone. Perfectly achievable and hardly purgatory.
If you can't be arsed, then that doesn't bode well.
telecat said:
Plenty of Evidence to support the fact that His BMI index will not apply at that Height. BMI relies Only on Height and Weight. Bone and Muscle mass are not included and as such it's a flawed way of measuring Obseity. Many Tall and atheltic people can be Obese under the system.
Would you care to take a wager, consisting of a foaming flagon of ale, that the protagonist in this tale of woe is actually a big fat biffer, rather than being unfortunately tall and athletic?Gassing Station | The Pie & Piston Archive | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff