AMA (NSW) President: NSW Education Department doing the right thing on obesity

AMA (NSW) President, Prof Brad Frankum, says the NSW Education Department has correctly identified obesity, in a small percentage of cases, as a child protection issue.

“The story in the Daily Telegraph this morning has jumbled the facts on its story on childhood obesity and schools.

“The NSW Education guidelines are a response to the Coronial investigation of the death of a 10-year-old Newcastle boy, who died from a complication of his extreme obesity.

“His obesity was a result of parental neglect.

“During his short life, he suffered greatly and died as a result of catastrophic cardiac arrest, caused by sleep apnoea.

“Something that could have saved his life would have been more communication between his school and his doctors and this is what NSW Education’s guidelines on obesity are about.

“They are not about reporting every child who is overweight or obese to Family and Community Services.

“With a quarter of children already in that weight range, that would be unimaginably unhelpful,” Prof Frankum said.

“NSW Education, like many other government bodies is trying to do its part on reducing childhood obesity.

“Health literacy and food education are separate to the issue at hand today, which is squarely a child protection matter.

“Similarly, this is not a story of fat-shaming kids – this is about protecting them from abuse and neglect,” Prof Frankum said.

“Earlier this year, AMA (NSW) launched its Stop the Clock anti-child abuse campaign.

“We did this because doctors regularly have to treat children who are experiencing abuse and we want to save as many lives as possible.

“Better communication about potential cases is one way we can help save more lives,” Prof Frankum said.

Media contact: Lachlan Jones 0419 402 955