A British married couple's dream to adopt a child has been
shattered because one of them has been judged to be too fat to be a good father.
Oh dear. You can spot the endless debate coming at you, can't you? Poor couple
bluntly turned down for adoption by council while abandoned children are condemned
to stay in care. Well, sometimes tough decisions must be made with long-term outcomes
in mind.
Damien and Charlotte Hall approached their local authority
in Leeds in the hope of adopting a child after
they found out they could not conceive naturally.
But in a letter, the council told the husband his BMI - of more
than 42 based on his weight of 24-and-a-half stone - must be below 40
before the couple could be considered as potential parents. The reason for being turned down was cited as
the risk of Mr Hall becoming ill or even dying.
There are two arguments here. First, when there is an
estimated 4,000 children on the adoption waiting list in the UK, turning
down a couple because one of them is too overweight can seem a bit short-sighted.
And by refusing them the chance to adopt, the council is condemning a child in
need of a loving and safe home to stay in care.
On the other hand, there is clear evidence that obesity is
directly linked to serious illness and premature death, and adopting a child is
a life-long commitment.
And the issue is not taboo anymore - because being
overweight is more common, carrying a few extra pounds is now seen as normal.
Also as the prevalence of childhood obesity is increasing, it's
crucial that parents show children a good example by eating a well-balanced diet
and practicing regular exercise.
The most important factor here is to operate in the child's best interest and in
this case, Leeds City Council has not officially closed the
couple's application but has challenged Mr Hall to loose weight and will then
reconsider their application once he has. So it's up to him now to show that
he's willing to change his lifestyle to have a child.
What do you think of this issue as healthcare professionals?
Can people be too fat to adopt a child? Should there be some guidance on how
fat is too fat? Do you think primary care professionals should support people
to eat more healthily and be more active?