Dear Editor,

I read with interest your column in the issue of May 30th’s Ross Gazette.

I was appalled when I read the report on the BBC’s website that 1 in 25 Year 6 children were severely obese. As a consequence, I emailed the BBC with my comments and the experience I had while undergoing open heart surgery at the John Radcliffe Hospital Heart Centre to correct a genetic heart condition.

My first comment was, ‘More importantly, as a percentage, how many Year 6 children are overweight as it is these children who need educating now about ways to lower their weight and avoid future health issues?’

The reason I was having open heart surgery was because I was born with a bicuspid aortic valve and this causes the ascending aorta structure not to form properly unlike someone born with a normal tricuspid aortic valve. At the age of 72, my ascending aorta had reached the point of rupture.

During my recovery time in the Centre, I was the only patient out of 28 who did not need to lose weight. The other 27 were there because they were overweight and obese: their lifestyle consequently causing them heart problems.

Unless parents educate themselves and their children to eat healthily and take plenty of exercise, the NHS will always struggle to provide essential care where it is needed most and as a result will always be underfunded.

Paul Stevenson

Pontshill