Posted on 06/10/2004 5:58:50 AM PDT by ijcr
The revelation that a severely obese three-year-old girl died from heart failure made headlines around the world.
Coming in the opening sentences of an influential Commons report about the obesity epidemic, it appeared to be a carefully chosen wake-up call.
The report went on to demand dozens of radical measures to tackle obesity - including bans on junk food advertisements and yearly "weigh-ins" for school pupils. It provoked a debate about the responsibility of parents, Government, advertisers and the food industry.
What it did not reveal was that the girl, thought to be a Bengali from East London, had a rare genetic disease that led to dangerous weight gain.
Prof Tom Sanders, a nutrition expert at King's College, London, said yesterday that MPs had been wrong to use the girl's death so prominently.
"They hadn't thought through how to present this the right way," he said. "They were going for headlines and so they tarted the report up and it backfired."
The account came from evidence submitted to the committee by Dr Sheila McKenzie, a consultant paediatrician at the Royal London Hospital's obesity clinic.
"In the last two years, one child at the age of three has died of heart failure secondary to extreme obesity," she told the MPs.
"Four other children also with severe obesity are managed at home with non-invasive ventilatory assistance because they have severe obstructive sleep apnoea because of their obesity. In other words, they are being choked by their fat."
Her evidence appeared in the second paragraph of the 146-page report's introduction.
Dr McKenzie declined to comment when the report was published, but is said to have been surprised by the way her letter was used by MPs and the media.
A hospital spokesman said yesterday: "Dr McKenzie and colleagues submitted their evidence on obesity to the select committee in good faith. We do not have the family's permission to discuss their situation in the media."
The girl's condition was diagnosed at the department of clinical biochemistry at Addenbrookes Hospital, Cambridge, from medical notes and a blood test.
The child died while the work was underway.
Dr Sadaf Farooqi, who made the diagnosis, said the notion that this could happen to any three-year-old who ate too much was "shocking".
"The death has become part of the discussion about what children eat when in fact it was the result of something else entirely," she told the on-line magazine Spiked.
"We are mixing up children's weight issues with distinct medical problems."
Dr Farooqi has yet to speak to Dr McKenzie but imagined ''she is also shocked by the media coverage".
Dr Farooqi is an expert in genetic diseases involving leptin, the "fat hormone". Leptin is part of the mechanism that tells the brain when the stomach is full.
Some children are born with a genetic defect that means leptin does not work properly. As a result, their bodies believe they are permanently starving.
A more common childhood obesity disease is Prader-Willi Syndrome, which leads to an insatiable appetite.
Jackie Waters, of the Prader-Willi Syndrome Association, whose daughter was born with the disease, believes the Health Committee report was guilty of perpetrating the myth that all obesity is caused by over-indulgence or laziness.
"We are used to people not understanding our children," she said. "But the committee should have checked their facts and looked at this case in much greater detail."
David Hinchliffe, the committee chairman, said the report had not suggested that the girl died from an unhealthy diet.
Of the girl's parents, he said: "I certainly feel sorry for the way in which they have been upset by the manner in which the media are implying that our committee suggested that this child died of an unhealthy diet.
"It is quite apparent from looking at our report - if people read our report - we did not either say that or indeed imply it and neither did the doctor."
Typical of several sorts I've dealt with.
Don't ever let the truth get in the way of an agenda.
Just like the gun-grabbers here in the USA. Make up stuff to get your agenda passed.
"The report went on to demand dozens of radical measures to tackle obesity - including bans on junk food advertisements and yearly "weigh-ins" for school pupils. It provoked a debate about the responsibility of parents, Government, advertisers and the food industry."
Time for a major growth in government, its for the chilrun. We have a contingent of Freepers that would applaud these actions, as long as it supports their agenda.
Watch out World. The Cigarette Police are changing their hats to read FOOD POLICE.
Tobacco lawyers, now junk food lawyers. How proud they must be of their profession.
"We are mixing up children's weight issues with distinct medical problems."
Dr Farooqi has yet to speak to Dr McKenzie but imagined ''she is also shocked by the media coverage".
Dr Farooqi is an expert in genetic diseases involving leptin, the "fat hormone". Leptin is part of the mechanism that tells the brain when the stomach is full.
Some children are born with a genetic defect that means leptin does not work properly. As a result, their bodies believe they are permanently starving.
Lies, lies, damned lies.
Right now I'm trying to lose about 15 pounds, so you can well imagine I've cut down severely on the junk food advertisements.
I dont think they have an obesity problem in Zimbabwe. Of course theres nothing to eat there either.
This girl's family should sue Michael Moore for setting a bad example.
ping
Yeah! LOL!
The Kennedy Diet! I'll give it a try. I've got one of those photos in my medicine cabinet; I've been using it as an emetic.
"We have bank accounts. Big ones. Who needs pride? Pride always hurts, it never helps." - trial lawyers
What?? Get outta here! Who ever heard of a politican doing something like this just to make the headlines?
Yea! Fat Teddy!
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