A HEALTHY child has been labelled obese and in danger of getting cancer after health workers botched his height and weight readings.

Graham Biner, 41, who lost his wife to cancer in 2010, was horrified to receive a letter from the South Essex Partnership Trust warning his active and healthy five-year-old son was at risk because recordings on his height and weight chart classified him as obese.

Mr Biner, who has himself survived cancer, is the sole carer for his son Wilfred after his wife Liz died from breast cancer at the age of 43, five months after they married in Australia.

He was shocked to read the letter sent out by the trust warning of potential health risks to Wilfred, including “some cancers”.

To make matters worse, a check by a GP of Wilfred’s height and weight and resulting BMI (body mass index) does not class him as obese, but of average build.

Mr Biner, of Daws Heath Road, Rayleigh, has written to the trust to complain.

The National Child Measurement Programme check was done at Wilfred’s school, Wyburns Primary, in Rayleigh.

Mr Biner said there had been no obvious cause for either his or his wife’s illness.

He said: “When Wilfred was four months old, his mother, and my wife Liz, was diagnosed with breast cancer with no contributing factors. Five days later, I was diagnosed with kidney cancer, again with no contributing factors.

“Two years later, Liz died from the cancer, leaving me as Wilfred’s sole parent and carer.

“Both Liz and I were fully aware of the potential causes of cancer and although being given the all-clear in May of this year, cancer is still a battle that I have to confront on a daily basis, so I do not need it rubbed in my face.

"We strived to ensure Wilfred was brought up to be an active, fit and healthy child. This is still something I hold to be very important.”

Wilfred was plotted on the chart as being in the 99.6th centile (obese) when, in fact, Wilfred’s height of 3ft 10in and his weight of 3st 5lb puts him in the 52nd centile (average).

Mr Biner, who has three stepchildren, says Wilfred regularly participates in climbing, swimming and judo clubs and, in his spare time, he enjoys cycling, hiking, kayaking and skiing. His diet consists of well-balanced meals and his dad says he regularly consumes fruit and vegetables.

He added: “In my experience, being misinformed about health matters is more dangerous than not being informed at all. This has been a complete waste of money and resources if they are not going to do it properly.

“It caused distress and anguish to myself and no doubt other parents given miscalculations.”