MERSEYSIDE schools could start weighing pupils in an effort to tackle the spiralling problem of child obesity.
Health officials will today suggest constant monitoring of children's weight after statistics revealed the region as one of the fattest areas in Britain.
But politicians last night warned frequent weigh-ins could cause pupils to lose their dignity and make them obsessed about their appearance.
Sefton councillor Jack Colbert said: "To me, it sounds ridiculous. If you are just weighing children, then they are going to rebel.
"It seems quite an insensitive thing to do. People these days are very conscious about their weight, and if children are going to be weighed at school, it could make them even more conscious of it.
"If they get a nurse or a medical professional in to do a full health check, it would be a different matter. They could educate the children on exercise and healthy eating, and talk to them sensibly and sensitively about weight."
The scheme, outlined in a report by Sefton Council's scrutiny and review committee on children's health, is among a list of recommendations to crack down on the problem.
A child's height and weight would be recorded and then analysed to monitor trends of child obesity in the borough.
A report set to be approved by the council's cabinet today also suggests improving nutrition in school meals by training staff, giving children greater choice, and raising the price by 10p for healthy ingredients.
It recommends promoting walking and cycling to school, handing out recipe cards for packed lunches to parents, and putting a greater emphasis on physical activity in the curriculum.
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