Latest news with #KennedyNewsandMedia
Wales Online
a day ago
- Health
- Wales Online
'I took weight-loss jabs and had side effects that almost killed me'
'I took weight-loss jabs and had side effects that almost killed me' Aimee, 34, was told she had a hole in her oesophagus and her liver was failing Aimee was hospiatlised with liver failure (Kennedy News and Media) A woman's bid to shed a few pounds using a weight-loss jab went horribly wrong when her hair fell out in clumps and she nearly lost her liver. Aimee Chapman began using the GLP-1-class weight loss injections in March last year after stumbling upon a post on social media. The 34-year-old hoped the fat jabs would help her lose weight and 'be taken more seriously' by doctors if she were slimmer. The family of drugs known as GLP-1 RAs, originally developed to treat diabetes, are now often being used for weight loss as they were found to suppress a patient's appetite. Aimee paid around £200 for a month's worth of jabs that she purchased from an online pharmacy - meaning it was completely legal and regulated. She lost four stone when she first began using the injectables, dropping from 14 stone to just 10 stone in four months. However, in June last year, Aimee began feeling more and more unwell - experiencing low energy levels, chest pains, diminished appetite and constant vomiting. After deciding to have her symptoms investigated in hospital, doctors discovered that Aimee had developed a hole in her oesophagus caused by vomiting 'more than 60 times'. Aimee's hair started to fall out in clumps (Kennedy News and Media) Aimee's liver then began showing signs of failure, with doctors even considering an organ transplant if her symptoms failed to improve. Luckily, Aimee was able to return home after 11 days in hospital - but soon began to notice her hair was coming out in clumps, a sign of vitamin deficiency that she believes is linked to the weight-loss jab. Aimee, who doesn't work due to her disability, is now calling on others who are considering using the injectables to do their research and consult a doctor. Aimee, who lives in Southampton, Hampshire, said: "I'd never even thought about it until I saw a post on social media saying you can just buy [weight-loss jabs]. "I noticed that as my weight changed, I was taken less seriously by doctors. My thinking was if I could weigh less, I would at least get taken a bit more seriously. It wasn't about getting thinner or looking better for me. That hadn't even crossed my mind. The hair loss was linked to malnutrition (Kennedy News and Media) "[After a few months of using the jabs] I started noticing I didn't have a lot of energy, I couldn't really do much. I was only eating a couple of times a week. I stopped being able to walk. I would take a couple of steps and have to stop. Then I couldn't stop being sick. "I was throwing up all the time and started throwing up blood. I was sick between 50 and 60 times. I collapsed a couple of times. My husband came home and found me passed out on the hallway one night. I was in a bit of denial about it being linked to the jab because I was fine up until now. I just thought I was poorly and it was some sort of virus." But when Aimee began experiencing chest pains, she went to Winchester Hospital's A&E where doctors discovered a hole in her oesophagus that was leaking air around her heart and lung. Aimee was then admitted to the intensive care unit when her blood pressure and potassium levels began to plummet. Aimee lost so much hair she had to shave her head (Kennedy News and Media) Aimee was later rushed to Southampton General Hospital's ICU when doctors noticed her liver function was deteriorating, prompting them to consider an organ transplant. Aimee said: "They were trying all sorts of things to get my liver levels back to normal. It was failing. "They had said it was down to the weight-loss jab but they didn't know why or how to fix it. There was so little out there medical-wise, doctors didn't know how to fix it. I was terrified. It all happened so quickly and I hadn't realised how serious it was until I was transferred and it sunk in that it was worse than I thought it was. "After coming out of ICU, the nurse told me this has happened because of these jabs and I can never take one ever again even if I had type-2 diabetes. I don't think they know whether this was a general side-effect or whether this was a rare case. I was really surprised about how much of my body it affected. Aimee with her husband Christopher (Kennedy News and Media) Article continues below "I was told the hole in the oesophagus can kill people and I may have needed a new liver. They said I could've died." Luckily, Aimee's health began to improve and she was discharged from hospital. But, the decline in her health and a consequential vitamin B-12 deficiency led to Aimee's hair falling out in September last year. Aimee said: "It kept happening and the handfuls kept getting bigger. I would be so sad. My hair was just above my bum when I went into hospital. My husband just said why don't you just cut it off? My hair was such a massive part of my identity and to cut it off just felt really traumatic. But I said to myself it was just hair, it'll grow back. "This feels like another result of the injections. I'm not going to tell people what they can and can't take but I do believe more research needs to be done into these jabs. I regret ever taking them. I'd say to other people thinking about trying them, don't do it online, go through your doctor who can give you blood tests and check how you're doing."
Scottish Sun
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
I was size 22 eating FIVE takeaways a week – now I'm told I look like Gemma Owen after 8st weight loss without jabs
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A MUM got a jaw-dropping 'revenge body' with £5,000 'tweakments' and losing eight stone - gaining comparisons to Love Island star Gemma Owen. Amy Salmon says when her long-term relationship broke down in March last year she was a size 22 and felt 'horrific' in her own skin. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 15 Amy Salmon when she was size 22 before her weight loss Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media 15 Amy lost eight stone to get a 'revenge body' and now oozes confidence Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media 15 Gemma opted for a £4,200 gastric sleeve in June 2024 Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media But after undergoing gastric sleeve surgery and £5,000-worth of beauty treatments, the 31-year-old says she now oozes confidence and is a completely different person. Unbelievable photos show Amy a year apart looking strikingly different - with the aesthetics practitioner claiming she's now a completely different person both mentally and physically. When the mum-of-two first met her ex-partner aged 21 she weighed 10st and would go to the gym five times a week to maintain her trim size 8 figure. But after becoming comfortable in her relationship, Amy says she piled on the pounds and ballooned to 17st as she gorged on five takeaways a week due to 'emotional eating'. More on weight loss WEIGH TO GO I was sick of not losing weight, I've shed FIVE STONE without fat jabs or diets It was only when Amy saw photos of herself in a dress after a night out post break-up that she decided she needed to do something about her 'unhealthy' habits. At first, Amy tried to lose the weight through exercise but, due to her binge-eating habit, opted for a £4,200 gastric sleeve in June 2024. Following the op in Egypt, Amy dropped 8st and eight dress sizes to a svelte size six and says she's now a much more active mum too. Amy is now sharing her transformation to show other women that they shouldn't be scared to leave an 'unhealthy' relationship. Amy, from Bishop's Stortford in Hertfordshire, said: "There was a breakdown in communication in our relationship. "In the end, we couldn't even bring ourselves to be in the same room as each other. I was sick of trying fad diets and not losing weight but now I've shed FIVE STONE without fat jabs or silly eating plans "I felt horrific in myself. I had never felt so low mentally and physically in my body image in my entire life. "A massive contributing factor for the relationship ended was how I looked, I was a massive binge eater. "You get comfortable with someone and go out on dates to eat and you're not going to the gym five or six times a week like I was when I first met him. "[In the relationship], I would order a lot of Uber Eats. I would have constant takeaways and live off these. 15 Following the op in Egypt, Amy dropped 8st and eight dress sizes to a svelte size six Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media 15 After becoming comfortable in her relationship, Amy says she piled on the pounds and ballooned to 17st Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media 15 She used to be a size eight (pictured at the age of 21) before her relationship Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media 15 Her long-term relationship broke down in March last year and prompted her image overhaul Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media "I was probably having five takeaways a week and it was setting me back at least £100. "The binge-eating had gotten out of control. I just needed something as extreme as a gastric sleeve to kick me into gear. "It [losing the weight] made me feel amazing. I love fashion and it meant I was able to buy clothes from shops as before I had to buy my clothes online. "As a mum it has massively changed the game. As a 17 stone woman, I would be sweating at soft play. "I used to be embarrassed to do those things because of how I looked and my energy levels but now I feel so much better." Beauty tweakments 15 Amy also transformed her look by getting 18-inch brunette extensions Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media 15 Amy, right, said she needed something as extreme as a gastric sleeve to kick her into gear Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media 15 Amy in Egypt ahead of her gastric sleeve Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media After her surgery, Amy underwent skin booster treatments, had her face filler and Botox regularly topped up and changed her hair from a 'miserable' blond bob to flowing 18-inch brunette extensions. In total Amy said she had £5,000 worth of treatments done and claims her break-up was the best thing to ever happen to her. Amy said: "I have changed my hair and got 18-inch extensions put in. The short bob was such a miserable cut and colour for a miserable person. "I do a lot of the treatment myself but I would have spent absolutely thousands on this. My hair alone cost me £600 and in total at least £5,000 for everything else." Love Island look 15 Many people compare Amy to Love Island's Gemma Owen - daughter of footballing legend Michael Owen Credit: Not known, clear with picture desk 15 Amy claims her break-up was the best thing to ever happen to her Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media 15 Amy in May 2024 after coming out of her long term relationship Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media In April this year, Amy posted a TikTok video showing off her transformation and users were quick to congratulate her and compare her to Love Island star Gemma Owen. And after getting her 'sparkle' back post break-up, she says she has started dating again and is now encouraging others to leave their relationship if they're unhappy. Amy said: "When I look in the mirror, I see a different person and I don't recognise the person I was. I could cry looking at photos. "When I stepped out of that relationship, I didn't recognise myself. I am so happy in myself now and I just ooze confidence. "I got compared to Love Islander Gemma Owens. She's so young but maybe my aesthetic treatment is working. "The break up was the best thing that has ever happened to me. It needed to happen and I dread to think where I would be if I was still in that relationship. "Do not let the fear of what your life will look like keep you miserable. Life's too short." Amy's diet before and after AMY'S DIET BEFORE Breakfast: A fast food breakfast Lunch: Takeaway Dinner: Pizza or microwave meal AMY'S DIET NOW AFTER GASTRIC SLEEVE SURGERY: Breakfast: Poached eggs or avocado on toast Lunch: Chicken salad or high protein meal Dinner: A small portion of spaghetti bolognese or a high-protein meal 15 Amy used to consume five takeaways a week and it was setting her back at least £100 Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media 15 Now Amy is confident in her skin Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media Amy's transformation video has now been viewed by 359,000 users and received more than 13,000 likes. One user wrote: "Wow. What a glow up! You look like Gemma Owen. Another commented: "I actually can't comprehend this is the same person. Glow!" A third wrote: "That's the same person - Wow - girl this is the best glow up ever." A fourth commented: "Considering divorcing my husband if I can glow up like this."
The Irish Sun
a day ago
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
I was size 22 eating FIVE takeaways a week – now I'm told I look like Gemma Owen after 8st weight loss without jabs
A MUM got a jaw-dropping 'revenge body' with £5,000 'tweakments' and losing eight stone - gaining comparisons to Love Island star Gemma Owen. Amy Salmon says when her long-term relationship broke down in March last year she was a size 22 and felt 'horrific' in her own skin. 15 Amy Salmon when she was size 22 before her weight loss Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media 15 Amy lost eight stone to get a 'revenge body' and now oozes confidence Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media 15 Gemma opted for a £4,200 gastric sleeve in June 2024 Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media But after undergoing Unbelievable photos show Amy a year apart looking strikingly different - with the aesthetics practitioner claiming she's now a completely different person both mentally and physically. When the mum-of-two first met her ex-partner aged 21 she weighed 10st and would go to the gym five times a week to maintain her trim size 8 figure. But after becoming comfortable in her relationship, Amy says she piled on the pounds and ballooned to 17st as she gorged on five takeaways a week due to 'emotional eating'. More on weight loss It was only when Amy saw photos of herself in a dress after a night out post break-up that she decided she needed to do something about her 'unhealthy' habits. At first, Amy tried to lose the weight through exercise but, due to her binge-eating habit, opted for a £4,200 Following the op in Egypt , Amy dropped 8st and eight dress sizes to a svelte size six and says she's now a much more active mum too. Amy is now sharing her transformation to show other women that they shouldn't be scared to leave an 'unhealthy' relationship. Most read in Fabulous Amy, from Bishop's Stortford in Hertfordshire, said: "There was a breakdown in communication in our relationship. "In the end, we couldn't even bring ourselves to be in the same room as each other. I was sick of trying fad diets and not losing weight but now I've shed FIVE STONE without fat jabs or silly eating plans "I felt horrific in myself. I had never felt so low mentally and physically in my body image in my entire life. "A massive contributing factor for the relationship ended was how I looked, I was a massive binge eater. "You get comfortable with someone and go out on dates to eat and you're not going to the gym five or six times a week like I was when I first met him. "[In the relationship], I would order a lot of Uber Eats. I would have constant takeaways and live off these. 15 Following the op in Egypt, Amy dropped 8st and eight dress sizes to a svelte size six Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media 15 After becoming comfortable in her relationship, Amy says she piled on the pounds and ballooned to 17st Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media 15 She used to be a size eight (pictured at the age of 21) before her relationship Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media 15 Her long-term relationship broke down in March last year and prompted her image overhaul Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media "I was probably having five takeaways a week and it was setting me back at least £100. "The binge-eating had gotten out of control. I just needed something as extreme as a gastric sleeve to kick me into gear. "It [losing the weight] made me feel amazing. I love fashion and it meant I was able to buy clothes from shops as before I had to buy my clothes online. "As a mum it has massively changed the game. As a 17 stone woman, I would be sweating at soft play. "I used to be embarrassed to do those things because of how I looked and my energy levels but now I feel so much better." Beauty tweakments 15 Amy also transformed her look by getting 18-inch brunette extensions Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media 15 Amy, right, said she needed something as extreme as a gastric sleeve to kick her into gear Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media 15 Amy in Egypt ahead of her gastric sleeve Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media After her surgery, Amy underwent skin booster treatments, had her face filler and Botox regularly topped up and changed her hair from a 'miserable' blond bob to flowing 18-inch In total Amy said she had £5,000 worth of treatments done and claims her break-up was the best thing to ever happen to her. Amy said: "I have changed my hair and got 18-inch extensions put in. The short bob was such a miserable cut and colour for a miserable person. "I do a lot of the treatment myself but I would have spent absolutely thousands on this. My hair alone cost me £600 and in total at least £5,000 for everything else." Love Island look 15 Many people compare Amy to Love Island's Gemma Owen - daughter of footballing legend Michael Owen Credit: Not known, clear with picture desk 15 Amy claims her break-up was the best thing to ever happen to her Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media 15 Amy in May 2024 after coming out of her long term relationship Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media In April this year, Amy posted a TikTok video showing off her transformation and users were quick to congratulate her and compare her to Love Island star And after getting her 'sparkle' back post break-up, she says she has started dating again and is now encouraging others to leave their relationship if they're unhappy. Amy said: "When I look in the mirror, I see a different person and I don't recognise the person I was. I could cry looking at photos. "When I stepped out of that relationship, I didn't recognise myself. I am so happy in myself now and I just ooze confidence. "I got compared to Love Islander Gemma Owens. She's so young but maybe my aesthetic treatment is working. "The break up was the best thing that has ever happened to me. It needed to happen and I dread to think where I would be if I was still in that relationship. "Do not let the fear of what your life will look like keep you miserable. Life's too short." Amy's diet before and after AMY'S DIET BEFORE Breakfast: A fast food breakfast Lunch: Takeaway Dinner: Pizza or microwave meal AMY'S DIET NOW AFTER GASTRIC SLEEVE SURGERY: Breakfast: Poached eggs or avocado on toast Lunch: Chicken salad or high protein meal Dinner: A small portion of spaghetti bolognese or a high-protein meal 15 Amy used to consume five takeaways a week and it was setting her back at least £100 Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media 15 Now Amy is confident in her skin Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media Amy's transformation video has now been viewed by 359,000 users and received more than 13,000 likes. One user wrote: "Wow. What a glow up ! You look like Gemma Owen. Another commented: "I actually can't comprehend this is the same person. Glow!" A third wrote: "That's the same person - Wow - girl this is the best glow up ever." A fourth commented: "Considering divorcing my husband if I can glow up like this." What is the difference between a gastric band, bypass and sleeve? The three most widely used types of Gastric band: where a band is used to reduce the stomach's size, meaning you will feel full after eating a reduced amount of food where your digestive system is re-routed past stomach, so you digest less food and it takes less to make you feel full where some of the stomach is removed, to reduce the amount of food required to make you feel full When coupled with exercise and a healthy diet, weight loss surgery has been found to be effective in dramatically reducing a patient's excess body fat. Recent research in the United States found that people with gastric bands lose around half of their excess body weight. Meanwhile gastric bypasses reduce this excess body weight by two thirds post-op. However, it's not always successful - and patients still need to take responsibility for eating well and working out.
Scottish Sun
2 days ago
- Health
- Scottish Sun
My five year old boy was called FAT by school – he plays tons of football and goes swimming… it's got to be a joke
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A FURIOUS mum has slammed the NHS for branding her five-year-old boy overweight despite him regularly playing football and swimming. Laura Atherton had given permission for slim son Jack Atherton to take part in the National Child Measurement Programme at his primary school last month. 9 Laura Atherton with her five-year-old son Jack Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media 9 Jack was branded overweight Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media 9 He goes swimming and plays football regularly Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media 9 The letter in question branding him 'overweight' Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media However, the 34-year-old laughed when she received a results letter from Halton Borough Council, Cheshire, last Wednesday declaring Jack as "overweight". The mum-of-two insists her "sporty" son plays football once a week and has been going swimming since he was two months old. Angry Laura says Jack "isn't chubby at all" and blames the 'outdated' BMI (Body Mass Index) system for not understanding how kids grow at different rates. Jack is 3ft 5in and weighs 3.5st, which puts him in the 97th percentile for his age and in the "overweight" bracket (91 and above). Tech complaints manager Laura posted an explainer video to TikTok, including a picture of her "'regular" son with viewers left gobsmacked. Laura, from Widnes, Cheshire, said: "I laughed when I saw it and said 'it's got to be a joke'. "Once it settled I thought classifying him as that was really bad. It's barbaric and horrendous. "He's very active and he's always been active. He's been swimming since he was a couple of months old. "He still goes swimming every week on a Saturday and he goes to football every Monday. "He's a normal-build five-year-old and he's wearing age 4-5 clothes. I've got washboard abs & weigh 13 stone at 5ft10 but I'm 'obese' by BMI standards "It angers me because what more can we be doing? I don't think he's overweight and everyone we know is outraged." She added: "People might think I've got rose-tinted glasses on and 'maybe he's a bit chubby but she doesn't see it' but he isn't chubby at all. There's nothing to him. "If I fed him less he'd be hungry. He's a growing lad and that's obviously not something I'm going to do. "From the checks online, I think if he was 3-4cm taller then he'd be in the healthy weight bracket, which is mental because they all grow at different rates at that age. "When Jack came home last night and asked for a biscuit I wondered if he should, but why was I thinking that? It's impacted me as well, it's ridiculous. "I don't want him to be overweight and that's a choice we make every day through his meals and making sure we get fruit and veg down him. "Jack doesn't know about it and he won't know about it either, he doesn't need to." 9 Jack with his mum Laura Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media 9 He was described as 'sporty' by his mum Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media 9 Sam's dad also gave his thoughts on the matter Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media Laura, who also lives with hubby Sam, 36, and their other son George, one, insists Jack's weight hasn't been brought up by medical professionals before. The National Child Measurement Programme measures the height and weight of children in reception class (aged 4-5) and year six (aged 10-11) to assess overweight and obesity levels in primary school children. The programme uses BMI for the programme, which is a measure of whether you're a healthy weight for your height, and includes a QR code on the results letter to advise parents. Laura believes such tests should be done at clinics rather than schools but doesn't feel BMI is fit for purpose anyway. 'DANGEROUS & OUTDATED' Laura said: "I'm not a doctor but I don't think BMI is fit for purpose. I think it's dangerous and outdated. "Some parents are really impressionable and if they didn't feel as strongly as I did then their kids might be going on a diet unnecessarily. "If you're a child and you're told you're overweight then that could have a real detrimental impact on their confidence and their relationship with food. "I think it's a terrible idea [to weigh kids in school]. The next check is when they go into high school and that's such an impressionable age and they'll be talking about it. "I agree with it in the correct environment for children that need help so I think these checks need to be through the doctors and school isn't the right setting." Laura's TikTok video, captioned 'I'm fuming', has been viewed almost half a million times with many comments in support of her. A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: 'The National Childhood Measurement Programme (NCMP) is vital to inform action to improve the health of all children and promote a healthier weight. 'We recognise that weight and growth can be very sensitive for some children, and their wellbeing is our priority. The privacy and dignity of children must be safeguarded at all times, and no child is forced to take part. 'School nursing teams and NCMP delivery staff measure children in a sensitive way, in private and away from other children, with weight and height information shared only with the parent or carer in a feedback letter. 'This government is shifting focus from sickness to prevention under our 10 Year Health Plan to meet our ambition of raising the healthiest generation of children ever.' 9 Jack with his happy family Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media
The Irish Sun
2 days ago
- Health
- The Irish Sun
My five year old boy was called FAT by school – he plays tons of football and goes swimming… it's got to be a joke
A FURIOUS mum has slammed the NHS for branding her five-year-old boy overweight despite him regularly playing football and swimming. Laura Atherton had given permission for slim son Jack Atherton to take part in the National Child Measurement Programme at his primary school last month. Advertisement 9 Laura Atherton with her five-year-old son Jack Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media 9 Jack was branded overweight Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media 9 He goes swimming and plays football regularly Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media 9 The letter in question branding him 'overweight' Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media However, the 34-year-old laughed when she received a results letter from Halton Borough Council, Cheshire, last Wednesday declaring Jack as "overweight". The mum-of-two insists her "sporty" son plays football once a week and has been going swimming since he was two months old. Angry Laura says Jack "isn't chubby at all" and blames the 'outdated' BMI (Body Mass Index) system for not understanding how kids grow at different rates. Jack is 3ft 5in and weighs 3.5st, which puts him in the 97th percentile for his age and in the "overweight" bracket (91 and above). Advertisement Read More in UK News Tech complaints manager Laura posted an explainer video to TikTok, including a picture of her "'regular" son with viewers left gobsmacked. Laura, from Widnes, Cheshire, said: "I laughed when I saw it and said 'it's got to be a joke'. "Once it settled I thought classifying him as that was really bad. It's barbaric and horrendous. "He's very active and he's always been active. He's been swimming since he was a couple of months old. Advertisement Most read in The Sun Exclusive "He still goes swimming every week on a Saturday and he goes to football every Monday. "He's a normal-build five-year-old and he's wearing age 4-5 clothes. I've got washboard abs & weigh 13 stone at 5ft10 but I'm 'obese' by BMI standards "It angers me because what more can we be doing? I don't think he's overweight and everyone we know is outraged." She added: "People might think I've got rose-tinted glasses on and 'maybe he's a bit chubby but she doesn't see it' but he isn't chubby at all. There's nothing to him. Advertisement "If I fed him less he'd be hungry. He's a growing lad and that's obviously not something I'm going to do. "From the checks online, I think if he was 3-4cm taller then he'd be in the healthy weight bracket, which is mental because they all grow at different rates at that age. "When Jack came home last night and asked for a biscuit I wondered if he should, but why was I thinking that? It's impacted me as well, it's ridiculous. "I don't want him to be overweight and that's a choice we make every day through his meals and making sure we get fruit and veg down him. Advertisement "Jack doesn't know about it and he won't know about it either, he doesn't need to." 9 Jack with his mum Laura Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media 9 He was described as 'sporty' by his mum Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media 9 Sam's dad also gave his thoughts on the matter Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media Advertisement Laura, who also lives with hubby Sam, 36, and their other son George, one, insists Jack's weight hasn't been brought up by medical professionals before. The National Child Measurement Programme measures the height and weight of children in reception class (aged 4-5) and year six (aged 10-11) to assess overweight and obesity levels in primary school children. The programme uses BMI for the programme, which is a measure of whether you're a healthy weight for your height, and includes a QR code on the results letter to advise parents. Laura believes such tests should be done at clinics rather than schools but doesn't feel BMI is fit for purpose anyway. Advertisement 'DANGEROUS & OUTDATED' Laura said: "I'm not a doctor but I don't think BMI is fit for purpose. I think it's dangerous and outdated. "Some parents are really impressionable and if they didn't feel as strongly as I did then their kids might be going on a diet unnecessarily. "If you're a child and you're told you're overweight then that could have a real detrimental impact on their confidence and their relationship with food. "I think it's a terrible idea [to weigh kids in school]. The next check is when they go into high school and that's such an impressionable age and they'll be talking about it. Advertisement "I agree with it in the correct environment for children that need help so I think these checks need to be through the doctors and school isn't the right setting." Laura's TikTok video, captioned 'I'm fuming', has been viewed almost half a million times with many comments in support of her. A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: 'The National Childhood Measurement Programme (NCMP) is vital to inform action to improve the health of all children and promote a healthier weight. 'We recognise that weight and growth can be very sensitive for some children, and their wellbeing is our priority. The privacy and dignity of children must be safeguarded at all times, and no child is forced to take part. Advertisement 'School nursing teams and NCMP delivery staff measure children in a sensitive way, in private and away from other children, with weight and height information shared only with the parent or carer in a feedback letter. 'This government is shifting focus from sickness to prevention under our 10 Year Health Plan to meet our ambition of raising the healthiest generation of children ever.' 9 Jack with his happy family Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media 9 Jack enjoys playing sports outside Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media Advertisement
