California schools sending parents 'fat letters' telling them their children are obese

By: Ryan Gorman

Schools in California are sending letters to parents telling them their children are fat.

Referred to as ‘fat letters,’ schools in parts of California are warning parents their pre-school-aged children are at risk of becoming obese adults. Despite some backlash, the letters appear to be making an impact.

About 200 of the 900 students reviewed by one nutritionist prompted warnings.

‘We let the parents know in a gentle fashion, but we also send out a ton of handouts to try to help that family,’ nutritionist Lauren Schmitt told CBS Los Angeles.

Determinations are made by looking at growth charts and percentiles, the nutritionist explained. If a child’s weight falls in the 95th percentile for their height, or their age, that child would be considered obese, she added, triggering a letter home.

Not everyone appreciates the ‘gentle’ approach notifying parents their children are ‘unhealthy.’

‘Every year there are a few phone calls from parents who are upset,’ Schimitt told the station.

California is not alone in sending the so-called ‘fat letters’ to parents of obese children. 19 other states also employ the practice, and it’s meant to be a positive.

‘It shouldn’t be a stigma, it’s not a way to categorize someone,’ Schmitt told the station. ‘It’s just showing that this child has increased risk to be obese as an adult, which then could lead to quite a few chronic diseases.’

Other school districts have resorted to sending body mass index test results to parents, the station noted.

The practice may be having an impact. Childhood obesity is down slightly in 18 states, according to the Centers for Disease Control, California is one of them.