Don't say 'obese'... you might upset fat people, councils have been warned

• Instead, they are people who need to 'achieve a healthier weight'

  Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2141600/Cant-fat-people-obese-councils-warned.html#ixzz1uaAUHe6u

The word 'obese' should not be used when encouraging the public to lose weight as it may be 'derogatory', councils have been told.

Instead, anyone who is dangerously overweight should merely be urged to try to 'achieve a healthier weight', according to guidelines drawn up by the health watchdog NICE.

Overweight teenagers in South Yorkshire could be fitted with gastric balloons, if a trial is approved.

Sheffield Children's Hospital said it wanted to use the balloons to help 10 morbidly obese 13 to 18-year-olds lose weight.

Those weighing between 14 and 20 stone (89kg-127kg) will be considered.

Dr Neil Wright from the hospital said the procedure was "intended as an option for young people where other treatments have not been successful".

The hospital said the procedure had been found to be effective for adults but very few studies had been carried out on young people.

The gastric balloon discourages overeating by inflating in the stomach to give the feeling of being full.