FARGO, North Dakota- A woman in North Dakota is planning to tackle the nation’s obesity crisis, one letter at a time.
KVLY reports that a woman named Cheryl plans to hand out letters to overweight trick-or-treaters, as opposed to candy.
The letter, in part reads:
“You(r) child is, in my opinion moderately obese and should not be consuming sugar and treats to the extent of some children this Halloween season.”
On Tuesday, she called into a local radio station to explain the reason behind the correspondence:
“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.”
Not everyone agrees with Cheryl’s methods, saying it could do more harm than good, especially for kids who are trying to fit in with their peers.
“It’s just that kind of thing that for some kids, if they’re vulnerable, might trigger major problems,” says Dr. Katie Gordon, Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychology at North Dakota State University.
Gordon also tells KVLY, “That’s not something that someone can judge- the health of someone-just by looking at them. I think that’s the main thing. Even if a child is overweight, they might be very healthy because of what they eat and how they exercise.”
To read KVLY’s original report, click here.
