Plans to ban the word 'obese' by officials at Liverpool City Council would create problems for those in dietitian jobs and obscure a "serious" issue, health campaigners have warned.

The Daily Telegraph reports that Liverpool City Council has considered plans to censor the word from its official publications, inspired by suggestions made at a "Schools Parliament". According to the Telegraph's report, the council has strongly considered the views of the group of 9-11 year old at the 'Parliament' that the word 'obese' has "too many negative connotations" and could be self-defeating.

Documentation raised the possibility that the stigma surrounding the word could discourage young overweight people from adopting healthy diets and exercise. This proposal could be implemented as part of the City Council's official strategy to tackle childhood obesity, with "unhealthy weight" used in future health promotion literature.

The suggestion has been vehemently opposed by health campaigners.

Speaking in The Telegraph, Sion Porter of the British Dietetic Association, an association and trade union for those in dietitian jobs in the UK, said that censoring medical terminology would simply obscure the issue and have little positive effect.

"To a dietitian or health professional, obese is a clear label for an individual with a BMI in excess of 30. [This] remains the best indicator of a person's weight level, and includes the terms 'overweight' and 'obese'," said Mr Porter.

"Clearly an individual who reaches the 'obese' category is risking serious health problems and needs to understand the severity of their weight problem."

Estimates suggest that nearly half of Liverpool's 11 year old boys and around 40% of Merseyside 11 year old girls are overweight; the city has one of the highest childhood obesity rates in the country. One in 20 of those under the age of 16 is officially classified as 'obese'.