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'Fuming' mum shares picture of son on Facebook after school calls him 'overweight'

The mum shared a picture of her son Harley, 4, on Facebook. [Photo: Getty]
The mum shared a picture of her son Harley, 4, on Facebook. [Photo: Getty]

A mum from Preston was left outraged after the NHS deemed her four-year-old son Harley ‘overweight’.

Mica Pullen, 29, took to Facebook to complain after she received a letter from Harley’s school stating that, at three foot six inches and weighing three stone and five ounces, Harley was overweight for his age, sex and height.

Harley was weighed as part of the NHS National Child Measurement Programme, which ranks children’s weight based on their body mass index (BMI).

The NHS National Child Measurement Programme measures children’s weight based on BMI. [Photo: Getty]
The NHS National Child Measurement Programme measures children’s weight based on BMI. [Photo: Getty]

The mother-of-two shared the letter with her followers, together with a picture of Harley in a pair of shorts.

Mica’s followers rushed in to console her, calling the letter ‘rubbish’.

One wrote: “That’s ridiculous! He’s clearly not overweight what a joke! How disgusting and patronising is that letter! Theo’s got his coming up I think.”

Another added: “He’s healthy and very loved! Chuck your letter in the bin! You do a fab job.”

The mother shared a picture of her son on Facebook together with the letter saying he was overweight. [Photo: Facebook]
The mother shared a picture of her son on Facebook together with the letter saying he was overweight. [Photo: Facebook]

Mica explained to the Lancashire Post the incident had left her ‘insecure’.

She told the publication: “A healthy diet is part of our lives and I make sure he eats healthily.

“I started to doubt myself when I read the letter and I felt like I needed reassurance that I wasn’t doing something wrong. But I am angry that I have been made to feel that way.

“I was pleased to get the support of so many parents on the Facebook page but I shouldn’t have to be looking for reassurance and made to feel insecure.

“The effect on me and my family has been ridiculous. My son is a very happy boy and is in good health.”

A mum recently started a parenting debate online after she asked whether or not she should be concerned about her daughter’s weight.

Taking to parenting site Mumsnet the woman explained that she was feeling ‘a little bit sad’ for her daughter.

“She is 7 and 138cm and 32kg. Not fat but not going to have slim frame ever,” she wrote.

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