NO
Susan Cotton, adoption manager, Action for Children
When recruiting adopters we have to look at a whole host of criteria and obesity is not automatically an exclusion factor.
Everyone is subject to a medical examination, we discuss lifestyle concerns and advise on health, including obesity if it is an issue.
Obviously if an individual is obese then it will have a direct impact on their overall health, as there are serious health risks associated. We have to take this seriously as we are looking for permanent homes for children.
We would advise potential adopters on where to get help to lower their health risks and alter their lifestyle, working together to make an adoption possible.
YES
Tam Fry, board member, National Obesity Forum
You can't do anything about fat people having children but there is something you can do if they want to adopt.
The evidence shows that children with obese parents are more likely to become obese themselves. The council or adoption body has a role to play and needs to be responsible. Instead of saying go away and lose weight, the prospective parents should be given details about how to live a healthy life.
I am not saying that obese people cannot be good parents. They can and they can be even better parents by showing a commitment to making sure they are healthy.
NO
Mo O'Reilly, director of child placement, British Association for Adoption and Fostering
There shouldn't be blanket bans in adoption but prospective adopters do need to be in good health.
Children who are placed for adoption are already separated from their birth parents so we don't want to rob them of another parent. We need to ensure they are well looked-after throughout their childhood and beyond.
When taking on young children who may have challenging behaviour, you need to have lots of physical energy and be emotionally resilient.
There also needs to be flexibility, so we wouldn't discourage anyone with a body mass index of over 40 from applying.
NO
Helen Clarke, development worker, The Fostering Network
If a fostering service has concerns that a potential carer's weight or fitness levels will impact negatively on their ability to work for the best outcomes for a child, but they have all the other skills and qualities needed to foster, they should be supported to improve their fitness. This means that their potential contribution to children in care will not go to waste.
