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Obesity expert batters Wii Fit after child is labelled overweight

Speaking to the Daily Mail, National Obesity Forum exec Tam Fry has said that Wii Fit should carry a warning about children using the product as Body Mass Index (BMI) is used as its primary measure.

"I'm absolutely aghast that children are being told they are fat," he said.

"BMI is far from perfect but with children it simply should not be used.

"A child's BMI can change every month and it is perfectly possible for a child to be stocky, yet still very fit.

"I would be very concerned if children were using this game and I believe it should carry a warning for parents."

Fry's comment came after a British child was told by the game that she was overweight, a fact that shocked her father.

"She is a perfectly healthy, 4ft 9in tall 10-year-old who swims, dances and weighs only six stone," he said anonymously due to fear of embarrassing the girl.

"She is solidly built but not fat. She was devastated to be called fat and we had to work hard to convince her she isn't."

Nintendo issued a statement on the matter today:

"Nintendo would like to apologise to any customers offended by the in-game terminology used to classify a player's current BMI status, as part of the BMI measurement system integrated into Wii Fit.

Wii Fit is still capable of measuring the BMI for people aged between two and 20 but the resulting figures may not be entirely accurate for younger age groups due to varying levels of development."

You're not fat, kids. You're beautiful just the way you are. More through the link.

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