# “Your child is, in my opinion, moderately obese and should not be consuming sugar and treats" **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 30, 2013, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-child-is-in-my-opinion-moderately-obese-and-should-not-be-consuming-sugar-and-treats/672685 "2013-10-30T16:17:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Soylent\_Juicy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/82dd89/32.png) [@Soylent\_Juicy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soylent_Juicy)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2013, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-child-is-in-my-opinion-moderately-obese-and-should-not-be-consuming-sugar-and-treats/672685/1 "2013-10-30T16:17:50Z")
Woman plans to hand out notes chastising parents of “overweight” children instead of Halloween candy: [http://www.sunnewsnetwork.ca/sunnews/world/archives/2013/10/20131030-110511.html](http://www.sunnewsnetwork.ca/sunnews/world/archives/2013/10/20131030-110511.html) So I, as a naturally thin child, would get candy but my slightly larger friend would get a humiliating note. Wow. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Aquadementia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aquadementia/32/555_2.png) [@Aquadementia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aquadementia)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2013, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-child-is-in-my-opinion-moderately-obese-and-should-not-be-consuming-sugar-and-treats/672685/2 "2013-10-30T16:29:30Z")
I think it’s sweet how she is encouraging parents and children to work together on a holiday, to egg her house. Sun news, huh. Is this similar to the weekly world news? ---
**Author:** ![Soylent\_Juicy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/82dd89/32.png) [@Soylent\_Juicy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soylent_Juicy)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2013, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-child-is-in-my-opinion-moderately-obese-and-should-not-be-consuming-sugar-and-treats/672685/3 "2013-10-30T16:35:59Z")
> [@Aquadementia](#): > > Sun news, huh. Is this similar to the weekly world news? No, it really is the legit news - the Toronto Sun, etc. You’d wonder though after reading a story like that. ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2013, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-child-is-in-my-opinion-moderately-obese-and-should-not-be-consuming-sugar-and-treats/672685/4 "2013-10-30T17:06:11Z")
Eh, the Grinch even had a Halloween special. You can see it on Youtube: [Halloween is Grinch Night](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygSEkwRCQPM). ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2013, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-child-is-in-my-opinion-moderately-obese-and-should-not-be-consuming-sugar-and-treats/672685/5 "2013-10-30T18:18:24Z")
Man, I don’t even _like_ kids and I hand out proper candy! It ain’t that hard! ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2013, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-child-is-in-my-opinion-moderately-obese-and-should-not-be-consuming-sugar-and-treats/672685/6 "2013-10-30T18:27:33Z")
There are some tiresome aspects of Halloween - mainly, the assumption that every household wants to/must participate, and must in essence throw up a barbed wire fence if they don’t want to. (Dark house, exterior lights off, etc.) Almost as tiresome are those who think they can bend it to their interests, be it the churchies who have to make a huge issue about keeping kids from practicing Satanism or goo-dooders like this one who think they can shame kids into behaving the way the dooder thinks they should. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2013, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-child-is-in-my-opinion-moderately-obese-and-should-not-be-consuming-sugar-and-treats/672685/7 "2013-10-30T20:40:43Z")
When I was a kid in the '50s, everyone participated, plus we went out on the 30th and again on the 31st. There was only one older woman who gave candy only on the 31st and chased kids away on the 30th. Of course she was rumored to be a witch. We lived in a young suburb where virtually every house had kids (peak Baby Boom years), so we made out like bandits. Between the two nights each kid got 4 shopping bags full of candy. Didn’t have to buy much the rest of the year. I don’t recall ever getting anything “healthy.” But some people dropped some change into the bag. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2013, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-child-is-in-my-opinion-moderately-obese-and-should-not-be-consuming-sugar-and-treats/672685/8 "2013-10-30T20:49:07Z")
I wonder if the sale ol eggs in her neighborhood is up? ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2013, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-child-is-in-my-opinion-moderately-obese-and-should-not-be-consuming-sugar-and-treats/672685/9 "2013-10-30T20:50:03Z")
I’m a Halloween grinch in that I close the curtains and turn out the lights. The one time I got candy, we had maybe 2 dozen kids show up - it just wasn’t worth the aggravation. And now we have a noisy dog and a cat who’s an escape artist - nope, not worth the aggravation. It’ll be lights out at our house. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2013, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-child-is-in-my-opinion-moderately-obese-and-should-not-be-consuming-sugar-and-treats/672685/10 "2013-10-30T21:10:49Z")
[Young fatties stay home if you are from Fargo ND!](http://nypost.com/2013/10/30/woman-gives-warning-letter-to-moderately-obese-trick-or-treaters/) The Halloween themed letter is a nice touch. Does she give candy and the letter or just the letter? > [@](#): > > A woman is taking up the fight against child obesity by handing out letters instead of candy to young Halloween trick-or-treaters she thinks are too fat. > > The Fargo-Moorhead, North Dakota woman, identified as “Cheryl” told local radio station Y-94 that she had decided to hand out warning letters to the parents of costumed trick-or-treaters whom she believes are “moderately obese”, reports [Valleynewslive.com](http://Valleynewslive.com) > > “You are probably wondering why your child has this note; have you ever heard the saying, “It takes a village to raise a child”? I am disappointed in “the village” of Fargo Moorhead, West Fargo,” she writes. > > “Your child is, in my opinion, moderately obese and should not be consuming sugar and treats to the extent of some children this Halloween season.” > > The letter also urges parents to lift their game and ensure their already overweight children don’t binge on sweets. ---
**Author:** ![CLee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f19dbf/32.png) [@CLee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CLee)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2013, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-child-is-in-my-opinion-moderately-obese-and-should-not-be-consuming-sugar-and-treats/672685/11 "2013-10-30T21:12:49Z")
Why gamble on this? Someone just got suspended and threatened with banning for criticizing obesity. Are you trying to goad someone into getting the same attention from mods? ---
**Author:** ![Laggard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de053/32.png) [@Laggard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laggard)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2013, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-child-is-in-my-opinion-moderately-obese-and-should-not-be-consuming-sugar-and-treats/672685/12 "2013-10-30T21:15:11Z")
It’s good that she is able to figure out immediately why the child is moderately obese. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2013, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-child-is-in-my-opinion-moderately-obese-and-should-not-be-consuming-sugar-and-treats/672685/13 "2013-10-30T21:17:18Z")
How is a US based story appearing first in an Australian news site? And how did they get the letter? ---
**Author:** ![Kimballkid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b5a626/32.png) [@Kimballkid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimballkid)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2013, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-child-is-in-my-opinion-moderately-obese-and-should-not-be-consuming-sugar-and-treats/672685/14 "2013-10-30T21:18:54Z")
The New York Post is an Australian news site? Also, if you Google it, the New York Post wasn’t any where near the first. ---
**Author:** ![Emtar\_KronJonDerSohn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/58956e/32.png) [@Emtar\_KronJonDerSohn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Emtar_KronJonDerSohn)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2013, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-child-is-in-my-opinion-moderately-obese-and-should-not-be-consuming-sugar-and-treats/672685/15 "2013-10-30T21:23:20Z")
> [@Kimballkid](#): > > The New York Post is an Australian news site? > > Also, if you Google it, the New York Post wasn’t any where near the first. Read the byline. “By news.com.au” ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2013, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-child-is-in-my-opinion-moderately-obese-and-should-not-be-consuming-sugar-and-treats/672685/16 "2013-10-30T21:25:28Z")
> [@Kimballkid](#): > > The New York Post is an Australian news site? > > Also, if you Google it, the New York Post wasn’t any where near the first. The New York Post story said it originated from News.com.au, note the byline in the Post story. ---
**Author:** ![Kimballkid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b5a626/32.png) [@Kimballkid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimballkid)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2013, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-child-is-in-my-opinion-moderately-obese-and-should-not-be-consuming-sugar-and-treats/672685/17 "2013-10-30T21:32:07Z")
Oh, didn’t see that. OK. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2013, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-child-is-in-my-opinion-moderately-obese-and-should-not-be-consuming-sugar-and-treats/672685/18 "2013-10-30T21:33:49Z")
OK, I want you to tell me what these trick or treaters looked like. Well, the big kid, he was kinda funny-looking. In what way? I dunno, just funny-lookin’. Can you be any more specific? I couldn’t really say. He wasn’t thin. Was he funny lookin’ apart from that? Yeah. So - you were giving mean notes to the big kid, then? Uh-huh. Is there anything else you can tell me about him? No. Like I say, he was funny lookin’. More n’ most kids even. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2013, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-child-is-in-my-opinion-moderately-obese-and-should-not-be-consuming-sugar-and-treats/672685/19 "2013-10-30T21:41:24Z")
So this woman hands out letters, rather than small toys or other non-sweet treats? Maybe Jack Chick tracts would be up her alley? If she doesn’t want to hand out candy, she can hand out little toys. Or just not participate at all. I can’t imagine that getting a letter like that would do any good to an obese kid. ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2013, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-child-is-in-my-opinion-moderately-obese-and-should-not-be-consuming-sugar-and-treats/672685/20 "2013-10-30T21:45:23Z")
To paraphrase The Dude… She’s not wrong, she’s just an asshole. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-child-is-in-my-opinion-moderately-obese-and-should-not-be-consuming-sugar-and-treats/672685.md?page=2)