Frisky Feline
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Woman handing out fat letters to 'moderately obese' trick-or-treaters': Mean trick or public service? | syracuse.com
A Fargo, North Dakota woman plans to ruin Halloween for some children who come knocking on her door by giving them a "fat letter" instead of candy.
In a radio interview with Y94, the woman, who identified herself only as Cheryl, said:
"I just want to send a message to the parents of kids that are really overweight. ... I think it's just really irresponsible of parents to send them out looking for free candy just 'cause all the other kids are doing it."
The letter, which she plans to give in lieu of candy to kids who she thinks are moderately obese, reads:
"You (sic) child is, in my opinion, moderately obese and should not be consuming sugar treats to the extent of some children this Halloween season. My hope is that you will step up as an adult and ration candy this Halloween and not allow your child to continue these unhealthy eating habits."
She said solving obesity needed to be a community effort.
"I'm contributing to their health problems and really, their kids are everybody's kids. It's a whole village," said Cheryl in the interview.
Reaction to the idea has been mixed. Many people have raised concerns about how something like this could be damaging to children.
"It's just that kind of thing that for some kids, if they're vulnerable, might trigger major problems," said NDSU Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychology Dr. Katie Gordon.
Gordon told Valley News Live that she doesn't think the letters will have the desired effect.
But David Smith, a cardiologist in Doylestown, Pa., told USA Today that Cheryl is doing a public service. He thinks the health risks of eating disorders pale in comparison to the risks brought on by obesity:
"I think it's a tough-love letter...Obesity in the last decade has taken over smoking as the leading health problem we face today. Giving candy to an obese child is like giving a cigarette to a person with emphysema. It is giving a drink to an alcoholic. It is giving heroin to a drug addict."
:fruit:
A Fargo, North Dakota woman plans to ruin Halloween for some children who come knocking on her door by giving them a "fat letter" instead of candy.
In a radio interview with Y94, the woman, who identified herself only as Cheryl, said:
"I just want to send a message to the parents of kids that are really overweight. ... I think it's just really irresponsible of parents to send them out looking for free candy just 'cause all the other kids are doing it."
The letter, which she plans to give in lieu of candy to kids who she thinks are moderately obese, reads:
"You (sic) child is, in my opinion, moderately obese and should not be consuming sugar treats to the extent of some children this Halloween season. My hope is that you will step up as an adult and ration candy this Halloween and not allow your child to continue these unhealthy eating habits."
She said solving obesity needed to be a community effort.
"I'm contributing to their health problems and really, their kids are everybody's kids. It's a whole village," said Cheryl in the interview.
Reaction to the idea has been mixed. Many people have raised concerns about how something like this could be damaging to children.
"It's just that kind of thing that for some kids, if they're vulnerable, might trigger major problems," said NDSU Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychology Dr. Katie Gordon.
Gordon told Valley News Live that she doesn't think the letters will have the desired effect.
But David Smith, a cardiologist in Doylestown, Pa., told USA Today that Cheryl is doing a public service. He thinks the health risks of eating disorders pale in comparison to the risks brought on by obesity:
"I think it's a tough-love letter...Obesity in the last decade has taken over smoking as the leading health problem we face today. Giving candy to an obese child is like giving a cigarette to a person with emphysema. It is giving a drink to an alcoholic. It is giving heroin to a drug addict."
:fruit: