Looks like the AMA is changing it's stance:
http://tinyurl.com/q86cl
Experts debate labeling children obese By LINDSEY TANNER, AP Medical
Writer
32 minutes ago
Some quotes:
"Labeling a child obese might "run the risk of making them angry,
making the family angry," but it addresses a serious issue head-on,
said Dr. Reginald Washington, a Denver pediatrician and co-chair of an
American Academy of Pediatrics obesity task force.
"If that same person came into your office and had cancer, or was
anemic, or had an ear infection, would we be having the same
conversation? There are a thousand reasons why this obesity epidemic is
so out of control, and one of them is no one wants to talk about it."
and another:
The change "would certainly make sense. It would bring the U.S. in line
with the rest of the world," said Tim Cole, a professor of medical
statistics at the University College London's Institute of Child
Health.
The existing categories are convoluted and "rather ironic, since the
U.S. leads the world in terms of obesity," Cole said. "There must be an
element of political correctness."
The debate illustrates just how touchy the nation is about its weight
problem.
At least we're talking about it now.
Bill C