A mother is now "extremely heartbroken" following a school health evaluation that labeled her athletic 5-year-old daughter as being overweight.
Willow Iris Hill is an energetic and lively student who loves engaging in activities such as playtime, dance, gymnastics, and swimming.
At Blaenavon Heritage School located in Torfaen, South Wales, healthcare professionals visited to measure and weigh a child who is five years old.
However, after the Aneurin Bevan University Health Board School Nursing Team visited, her mother, Natasha Hill, was sent a warning letter regarding her daughter.
It said 'The results suggest that your child's weight is above the healthy weight range for their age, sex, and height.'
The letter then provided links to websites for guidance around nutrition and living a healthy life.
Ms Hill, who has since sharply criticized the system as 'cruel,' was informed that her daughter's Body Mass Index exceeded what was considered ideal by just two percent.
Labeling the system as 'cruel' and 'fundamentally flawed,' Ms. Hill further stated that it fails to consider her daughter's healthy way of life.
I am completely heartbroken and stunned," she stated. "BMI doesn’t consider any aspects related to one’s way of life or dietary practices.
My daughter was categorized as being overweight, yet she doesn’t carry an excess bit of fat. She naturally possesses great strength.
Labeling the BMI system as 'obsolete' and 'discouraging,' the parent mentioned they were queried about wanting some 'advice' concerning their offspring's well-being.
She added: 'But do they know she already does a lot of sport? They labelled her as overweight which is disheartening and upsetting.'
I go to great lengths to guarantee her lead a wholesome and well-balanced life. It’s important to be cautious as categorizing children can significantly affect them.
Elaborating on her daughter's 'highly energetic and robust routine,' Ms. Hill mentioned that her child participated in gymnastics sessions twice weekly and also joined various performing arts classes along with numerous other pursuits.
"We both are dedicated to offering her healthy food options and maintaining a well-balanced life for her," she stated.
I am truly troubled by what seems to be a lack of research or thoughtfulness in evaluating my child.
Currently, Ms. Hill is urging healthcare authorities to alter their strategy because she worries that the present system might harm children’s self-esteem and has initiated a petition as well.
She stated, "In order to obtain precise measurements, they must dig deeper. The institution merely adheres to the guidelines; however, their data isn’t accurate."
Most of the parents I'm familiar with believe this isn't a suitable method. We need to overhaul the entire procedure. If you don't speak up for your child, nobody else will.
The criteria for assessing children are established by Public Health Wales.
A representative from Public Health Wales stated: "The choice to reach out to specific families is handled at a local level rather than by Public Health Wales."
The function of Public Health Wales is to compile data for dissemination at a population level, with this information being accessible on our website.
We refrain from commenting on specific instances or releasing information about particular cases.
MailOnline has reached out to Torfaen Borough Council, Blaenavon Heritage School, and Public Health Wales for their comments.
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