N.D. Woman To Give 'Obese' Kids Advice, Not Halloween Candy
FARGO, N.D. (WCCO) -- A Fargo, N.D. woman is at the center of controversy after vowing to hand not Halloween candy but instead letters to children she deems "overweight," warning them about their health.
A report in Valley News Live claims the woman -– identified only as Cheryl –- wanted to voice her concern regarding the health of children in her neighborhood.
"I just want to send a message to the parents of kids that are really overweight," she told Fargo's pop radio station Y94. "I think it's just really irresponsible of parents to send them out looking for free candy just [be]cause all the other kids are doing it."
The letter reads: "You are probably wondering why your child has this note; have you ever heard of the saying, 'It takes a village to raise a child?' ... Your child is, in my opinion, moderately obese ... and should not be consuming sugar and treats to the extent of some children this Halloween."
The letter has gone viral on social networking sites, with many rushing to either support or decry the woman's Halloween plans.
"It's just that kind of thing that for some kids, if they're vulnerable, might trigger major problems," Dr. Katie Gordon, an assistant professor of clinical psychology at North Dakota State University, said. "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."
Gordon then added, "It's ineffective anyway because it's not likely to help the kid."
