The article outlines how an influential expert committee of the
American Medical Association has "tentatively decided" to
reclassify obesity definitions. This will result in healthy
children being categorized as medically overweight or obese,
says the author, and mean that approximately a quarter of
toddlers and two fifths of children aged 6-11 in America will be
classed as having the disease. The author of the articles is Ray
Moynihan, who has previously written about drug companies
promoting an increasing reliance on medications to the public.
His report reveals that the U.S. proposals have been greeted
with alarm by some senior public health academics who have
written to the committee. Dr. Jenny O'Dea from the University of
Sydney, for instance, warned that labelling children as
overweight or obese can lead to stigmatization, eating problems
and avoidance of exercise. Mr. Moynihan points out that one of
the prime movers behind the proposed changes being considered by
the expert committee is Dr. William Die