A mum claims that her daughter started refusing to eat after being told by her school that she is ‘overweight’ in a letter.
The mum, with a daughter in the third grade, says that the kids at school were made to take part in a fitness test, with height and weight measurements taken to give a BMI chart reading.
In the end, they handed out letters to the parents to inform them about the findings, which definitely feels quite cruel.
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In a post on Reddit, the incensed mother wrote: "They gave letters to all the parents whose children had overweight/obese BMIs.
“These letters were handed to the kids in front of the class and the kids were told not to open them, they were for the parents but the kids knew what the letters were for."
After that, she noticed that her daughter seemed a bit off.
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"I asked her about her day and she just said 'Fine' and normally this kid talks up a storm," she continued.
"I kept looking at her in my rearview mirror and she was sad.
"We got home and I said, 'You seem sad, what's wrong baby?' and she broke down in tears and said she's fat and needs to lose weight.
"My first thought is, who the f*** called my kid fat.
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“I asked why she said that, she hands me the letter from her backpack."
The letter said she was two pounds – just two pounds – over a healthy BMI, putting her at risk of high blood pressure, diabetes, and a ‘slew of other issues’, according to the letter.
Parents were also asked to confirm that they’d take their kids to the doctor to come up with a weight loss plan.
This kid is eight or nine years old, people.
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The concerned parent went on: "She was just at the doctor and he said nothing about her weight. He's very blunt so he would say if her weight was a concern.
"My kid is fine - it's 2lbs. I told her she's perfectly healthy and does not need to lose weight."
Meanwhile, her daughter kept refusing food, turning down anything off the menu at her favourite restaurant after being taken as a treat.
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“She went into the bathroom, hysterically crying saying she can't eat ever again,” her mum said.
"I am so angry. My daughter, normally a great eater, won't eat because of this letter.
"I don't care if my daughter is 2lbs overweight or 50 - don't make it the kid's problem.
"Everyone knew that if you received a letter, you had a weight problem, absolutely humiliating the kid."
It hits home doubly for her, as she went on to say that she’s suffered with body dysmorphia herself, swearing that her kids wouldn’t suffer the same.
Most observers have slammed the school’s ‘braindead’ letter, sharing their own experiences.
One said: "In our schools they didn't notify parents but the weighing part was done in front of all the students.
"The insecurities these weighing things 'done to keep the health in check' gave, still haunt me."
Another wrote: “My school did this too, but everyone got a letter worth their results, not just the kids who were overweight.
"She needs to talk to the school because that's how it should be. You don't single out kids. If there is - which doesn't seem like the case here - a problem with their weight, they already know!"
Others suggested that she take her daughter to the doctor anyway, just so her child can hear that there’s nothing wrong with her.
The real trick would have been to avoid the whole thing altogether, though.
Tom Wood