by Joe Walker

A superfit boy told by an NHS

school nurse he is nearly obese has now developed a complex about

his weight.

Toned Josh Adams, 11, is 4ft 7ins

tall and weighs just 6st 5lb, but amazingly a government-driven

assessment records him as overweight and bordering on being

obese.

The sports-mad Swalecliffe Primary

School pupil now refuses to eat some of his favourite foods and

constantly checks his body in the mirror.

His mum Becky, 34, agreed for Josh

to take part in the tests - part of the government's National Child

Measurement Programme - but says she couldn't believe the

results.

She said: "When the report came in

the post I was so shocked - there's nothing of him.

"I thought they'd made a mistake

and given me the results for another child. I had to check the name

twice."

Mum-of-two Becky debated whether to
tell Josh the results but eventually decided to break the news.

She said: "When I told him he
laughed. But it was a nervous laugh and you could see his face
drop.

"I could tell it was stewing on his
mind and later that evening he wouldn't eat his shepherd's pie and
wanted salad instead.

"He's been like that since and I
keep catching him standing sideways and looking in the mirror.

"I've told him he's not fat and to
stop worrying about it, but it goes in one ear and out the
other."

In its fifth year, the National
Child Measurement Programme is part of the government's campaign to
tackle child obesity.

As part of the scheme, all children
in reception class and year six have their weight and height
measured and the results are collected on a national database.

Audio: Hear mum Becky
Adams tell of Josh's shock at being told he's obese

But Becky, who runs R&B's gym
in Herne Bay, says the tests are completely misguided and could
cause some youngsters to develop eating disorders.

She said: "Kids face enough stress
these days without having to worry about their weight.

"I know there are some children who
need to address their weight for health issues, but Josh clearly
isn't one of them.

"He plays football twice a week,
eats healthily and is down the gym with us almost everyday.

"There's nothing more he could
actually do if he wanted to lose weight. But because of these tests
he now thinks he's fat and has a complex about his weight. I think
it's disgusting."

• Facts about obesity on the Change4Life website
• Is your child overweight/obese? Calculate their BMI