Donkey
February 26th, 2009, 12:46 PM
A Leeds man who was told he was too fat to adopt has lost 19lbs in three weeks.
Damien Hall's 24.5-stone (156kg) bulk made him morbidly obese and Leeds City Council told him to slim before it could consider him for adoption.
After taking drastic action with his diet, Mr Hall says he is on his way to his goal weight and the council should allow the couple to start proceedings.
The council says it cannot happen until Mr Hall's body mass index (BMI) of 42 is reduced to 40.
Mr Hall, 37, and his wife Charlotte, 31, first told their story to BBC Radio 5 live's Victoria Derbyshire show six weeks ago.
Three weeks later, they both started a diet and even Mrs Hall, who did not need to lose weight to meet council rules, has lost a stone.
Mr Hall said: "It's not been easy but I'm chuffed. There is a little way to go yet but that's just what I have to do."
Despite losing the weight, Mr Hall's BMI has not reduced enough and he is aiming to lose the same amount again.
However, he said he wished the council would take his initial weight-loss efforts into account.
"Why can't we start the process now? It can take 18 months to a year.
"If social services are saying there aren't enough parents coming forward for adoption, then surely you would be wanting to support people through that?"
The letter the couple were originally sent by Leeds City Council, signed by a team manager and seen by the BBC, said: "I understand that you would like to begin the assessment as soon as possible and while appreciating your reasons for this, I consider it would be more appropriate to begin the assessment once Mr Hall's BMI is below 40."
The Department for Children, Schools and Families said it does not issue guidance on maximum weight for adopters to local authorities.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7912325.stm
Damien Hall's 24.5-stone (156kg) bulk made him morbidly obese and Leeds City Council told him to slim before it could consider him for adoption.
After taking drastic action with his diet, Mr Hall says he is on his way to his goal weight and the council should allow the couple to start proceedings.
The council says it cannot happen until Mr Hall's body mass index (BMI) of 42 is reduced to 40.
Mr Hall, 37, and his wife Charlotte, 31, first told their story to BBC Radio 5 live's Victoria Derbyshire show six weeks ago.
Three weeks later, they both started a diet and even Mrs Hall, who did not need to lose weight to meet council rules, has lost a stone.
Mr Hall said: "It's not been easy but I'm chuffed. There is a little way to go yet but that's just what I have to do."
Despite losing the weight, Mr Hall's BMI has not reduced enough and he is aiming to lose the same amount again.
However, he said he wished the council would take his initial weight-loss efforts into account.
"Why can't we start the process now? It can take 18 months to a year.
"If social services are saying there aren't enough parents coming forward for adoption, then surely you would be wanting to support people through that?"
The letter the couple were originally sent by Leeds City Council, signed by a team manager and seen by the BBC, said: "I understand that you would like to begin the assessment as soon as possible and while appreciating your reasons for this, I consider it would be more appropriate to begin the assessment once Mr Hall's BMI is below 40."
The Department for Children, Schools and Families said it does not issue guidance on maximum weight for adopters to local authorities.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7912325.stm