WHEN A CHILD IS PUNISHED FOR HER WEIGHT

She is just 13 years old.
Six months ago, she weighed 153 kilos. Today, after 6 months of bariatric surgery, she weighs 112 kg.

She has lost 25% of her total body weight—a remarkable achievement by any medical standard. Physically, she’s doing better than ever. Emotionally, she’s struggling.

Because no school wants to take her in.

She hasn’t been to school since Grade 3. Her weight—and the judgement that came with it—forced her into homeschooling. Now, even after making such incredible progress, she finds herself rejected again. Every admission form, every interview, every polite refusal chips away at her self-worth.

She is a bright, curious, and articulate girl. But instead of celebrating her courage and recovery, the system is punishing her for a disease she never chose to have.

Obesity is not a failure of willpower. It’s a complex medical condition—one that affects the body, mind, and social identity. Yet, even when a child fights back with everything she has, stigma continues to stand in her way.

Schools need to do better.
Education is not just about marks—it’s about inclusion, empathy, and growth. A young girl’s potential must not be limited solely by her weight.

It breaks my heart that even after winning the battle against her body, she still has to fight one against society.