Council denies obesity blocked adoption

Glasgow council has denied it refused to let a couple adopt
because they were too fat, writes Nicola
Barry.

Margaret Kyme, who weighs 22 stone, claims Glasgow council
turned down her application to adopt “because she was too fat”.

Kyme and her partner, Bill O’Neill, who are both in their
forties, are claiming they have been discriminated against.

The couple previously applied to adopt when they lived in
Lancashire. When they moved to Scotland last year, their
application was in its final stage.

They made representations to Glasgow council, but, after a
medical, were told they were not suitable.

A Glasgow council spokesperson confirmed that the adoption
panel, which is made up of health care professionals as well as
elected councillors, had recommended the couple’s application
should not be accepted for medical reasons.

The spokesperson said smoking was not usually an issue, although
it had been in this case. “Of course, the medical problems caused
by obesity are always an issue. In this case it was a combination
of health problems which stood against the couple.”

The spokesperson said: “Nobody at any stage told them they were
too fat to adopt.”