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When a soccer player and a soldier have a child, one wouldn’t expect that child to be obese.
But for Christina, a retired professional soccer player, and her husband Barry Palmer, this is the reality.
Their son Harry weighs 238 pounds, over twice what most 14-year-olds weigh. His BMI is 37.2, which is classed as “severely obese.”
Not only that, but he doesn’t think his weight is a problem.
“You don’t want to spoil your childhood, that’s how I see it. Live your childhood happy and worry about life after.
“If I lose weight, I will lose weight when I’m older. I don’t think I should ruin my childhood by eating healthy all the time, like salads and stuff. Most kids eat sweets so I should live my childhood and be happy.”
But neither his parents, nor Public Health England agree with him. Public Health England says that obese children are much more likely to become obese adults, and experience higher mortality and disability in adulthood.
His parents want him to watch what he eats, but he won’t listen.
“There’s no telling him, he knows better. He doesn’t want to lose weight, he’s not bothered, he’s living his life. It is frustrating and upsetting, is there any more I can do?” says his father, Barry.
“He doesn’t like anything to do with losing weight or getting fit.”
They decided to settle the score by going to a private doctor, in order to assess his health once and for all.
The doctor told Harry that his BMI was incredibly high, but “everything else is fine, although your blood pressure is a little high for someone your age. But that will be because your body is working harder to carry the extra weight around.
“If you carry on as you are, when you are 17 you will be heavier than you are right now and that will blow you right out.”
The doctor told Harry he was at risk for type two diabetes, gall bladder disease, and heart disease as well, but Harry didn’t seem to be shaken up.
“I know I need to lose weight but now I know everything else is all right.”
Whether or not he’ll be all right remains to be seen. He hopes to be a pilot one day, but to do so, he has to pass a medical test. He didn’t pass the last one. If he continues the way he does, that may end up being the least of his problems.
