Post by Libby on Jan 13, 2009 15:14:29 GMT
You're too fat to adopt: 24st husband told he has too many health risks!
Having found out they could not have a child of their own, Damien and Charlotte Hall decided to offer a loving home to one waiting in care.
But their dream of adopting was shattered when they were told that Mr Hall, 37, was too fat.
It has emerged that council officials have ruled the couple are not suitable as he weighs 24-and-a-half stone and has a body mass index (BMI) of more than 42, classing him as very obese.
Mr and Mrs Hall, who have been married for 11 years, had approached the council to offer 'a happy and safe home' to one of the 4,000 children in England and Wales waiting for adoption.
But officials told Mr Hall, of Leeds, that he would have to lose weight as his risk of becoming ill or dying was too high.
Mrs Hall said: 'You've got a child in care who's going to get up tomorrow not knowing where it's going and we're here ready to take a child on.
'They seem to be saying it's better for them to be in care and being shoved from pillar to post just in case Damien dies.'
The 31-year-old nanny added: 'It's just gutting. We had an inkling they'd say something about [his] weight but to be turned down flatly just on that, it's harsh.
'My husband has a full-time job and is very active. He walks our dog at least twice a day and doesn't feel unfit or unwell.'
Her husband, a call centre worker, said: 'I'm 24-and-a-half stone, that's what it eventually comes down to.
'All that letter is, is a reaction to the medical we had.
'Leeds City Council manages this so you can't go any further. The bottom line is I'm too fat.'
Mr Hall is 6ft 1in and knows he is overweight but said it would be hard to lose weight under pressure.
He denied being 'a couch potato', adding: 'I just feel as though we were only judged on my weight and not all the other good things about us.
'We don't drink or smoke and we could give a child a happy and safe home.'
Leeds City Council, which does allow homosexual couples to adopt, wrote to express concerns that medical experts had over Mr Hall's weight and their suitability as parents.
It read: 'We will require Mr Hall to have a further medical in six months which will be considered by our medical adviser.
'The Adoption Panel is unlikely to approve applicants with a BMI over 40 because of the long-term health risks.'
The Department for Children, Schools and Families said it did not issue guidance on maximum weight for potential adopters to local authorities.
But a council statement said it 'has a legal responsibility to ensure that adopters are able to provide the best possible lifelong care.'
It added: 'Part of this is advice for applicants on suitability criteria, including any health and lifestyle issues which may impact on an applicant's long-term ability to adopt.
'Mr and Mrs Hall's application is still active and they have been given advice on how best to proceed.'
The BMI is a calculation which reveals how healthy a person's weight is related to their height.
If is worked out by dividing your weight in kilograms by your height in metres.
Divide again by your height in metres to get the final figure.
A BMI of 18.5 to 24.9 means you are an ideal weight for your height. A BMI of 30 to 39.9 means you are obese and one of over 40 is very obese.
dailynewspaper.co.uk/
Having found out they could not have a child of their own, Damien and Charlotte Hall decided to offer a loving home to one waiting in care.
But their dream of adopting was shattered when they were told that Mr Hall, 37, was too fat.
It has emerged that council officials have ruled the couple are not suitable as he weighs 24-and-a-half stone and has a body mass index (BMI) of more than 42, classing him as very obese.
Mr and Mrs Hall, who have been married for 11 years, had approached the council to offer 'a happy and safe home' to one of the 4,000 children in England and Wales waiting for adoption.
But officials told Mr Hall, of Leeds, that he would have to lose weight as his risk of becoming ill or dying was too high.
Mrs Hall said: 'You've got a child in care who's going to get up tomorrow not knowing where it's going and we're here ready to take a child on.
'They seem to be saying it's better for them to be in care and being shoved from pillar to post just in case Damien dies.'
The 31-year-old nanny added: 'It's just gutting. We had an inkling they'd say something about [his] weight but to be turned down flatly just on that, it's harsh.
'My husband has a full-time job and is very active. He walks our dog at least twice a day and doesn't feel unfit or unwell.'
Her husband, a call centre worker, said: 'I'm 24-and-a-half stone, that's what it eventually comes down to.
'All that letter is, is a reaction to the medical we had.
'Leeds City Council manages this so you can't go any further. The bottom line is I'm too fat.'
Mr Hall is 6ft 1in and knows he is overweight but said it would be hard to lose weight under pressure.
He denied being 'a couch potato', adding: 'I just feel as though we were only judged on my weight and not all the other good things about us.
'We don't drink or smoke and we could give a child a happy and safe home.'
Leeds City Council, which does allow homosexual couples to adopt, wrote to express concerns that medical experts had over Mr Hall's weight and their suitability as parents.
It read: 'We will require Mr Hall to have a further medical in six months which will be considered by our medical adviser.
'The Adoption Panel is unlikely to approve applicants with a BMI over 40 because of the long-term health risks.'
The Department for Children, Schools and Families said it did not issue guidance on maximum weight for potential adopters to local authorities.
But a council statement said it 'has a legal responsibility to ensure that adopters are able to provide the best possible lifelong care.'
It added: 'Part of this is advice for applicants on suitability criteria, including any health and lifestyle issues which may impact on an applicant's long-term ability to adopt.
'Mr and Mrs Hall's application is still active and they have been given advice on how best to proceed.'
The BMI is a calculation which reveals how healthy a person's weight is related to their height.
If is worked out by dividing your weight in kilograms by your height in metres.
Divide again by your height in metres to get the final figure.
A BMI of 18.5 to 24.9 means you are an ideal weight for your height. A BMI of 30 to 39.9 means you are obese and one of over 40 is very obese.
dailynewspaper.co.uk/
