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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Man 'too fat to adopt' slims down | Man 'too fat to adopt' slims down |
| (1 day later) | |
| A Leeds man who was told he was too fat to adopt has lost 19lbs in three weeks. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. |
| FROM BBC RADIO 5 LIVE More from BBC Radio 5 Live | |
| 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." | 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. | 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, two years. | |
| "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?" | "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 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. | The Department for Children, Schools and Families said it does not issue guidance on maximum weight for adopters to local authorities. |