A FURIOUS mum says her five-year-old daughter, who weighs less than 4st, has been branded "almost obese" by the local council.

Karis Campbell came back from holiday to a letter with the shocking news after a health check at school.

Little Lexi, from Harlow, Essex, weighs 23kg, and is classed as being in the healthy weight range for her height on the BMI scale.

Karis told Essex Live: "It's terrible. My little girl is in reception at St James Primary School in Harlow. Essex Child and Family came into the school in reception and year six to note height and weights.

“We have been on holiday and only just come back on Sunday, to find a letter telling me she is an 'unhealthy weight, she is overweight'.

“You go on their website and they have a chart. You can put all their details in and it will show you how overweight they are.

“They say she is five per cent off from being obese."

She said Lexi spends plenty of time running around and does ballet.

The concerned mum has not told her daughter as she doesn't want it to affect her confidence.

'IT'S TERRIBLE'

She thinks the focus should instead be on mental health, as she questioned the effect being told they are fat could have on a child.

An Essex County Council spokesperson said: “Essex County Council, like all Local Authorities in England, is required to deliver the National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP), whereby children in Reception Year and Year Six at Primary School have their height and weight measured, in a sensitive and understanding way.

“This is an important national programme that helps us track trends in overweight and obesity rates for children in England, and drives action to support healthy weight behaviours.

“We are working closely with a number of different organisations, partners and schools across the county to support children and families in making healthy lifestyle choices.

“The NCMP is a key part of the way in which we evaluate how effective our collective programmes are in helping all young people to live healthily and maintain a healthy weight.”

Last year we reported on the areas of UK where children are more likely to be obese.

Kids in Camberwell Green in Southwark, London, were found to be the most overweight.

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