The head of what was once branded Dundee’s “fat family” says he is a broken man after living with the label for a decade.
Andrew Anderson admits he has been struggling to cope since losing his children ten years ago and later his wife Pamela, who died in 2017.
Andrew and Pamela’s seven children were taken into care in 2011 following a three-year row over the youngsters’ weight which led to the Andersons being branded the “fat family”.
It began in 2008 when the parents were told their kids would be taken away if they didn’t lose weight.
Now 66 and living in Brechin, Andrew says the unsuccessful battle to keep his children has ruined his life.
At the time, Dundee City Council insisted children would not be removed from their parents for weight issues alone.
But Britain was a nation obsessed with weight, and obesity – particularly in childhood – was under the microscope.
Government policy and even reality TV shows were dedicated to the issue.
Andrew believes the Anderson family were made an example of.
‘Scapegoats’
He said: “I have absolutely nothing to hide.
“My belief is that we were scapegoats, that council social workers decided to make an example of us because at that time the buzzword was “obesity”.
“No matter what we did or tried to do for our children it never seemed to be good enough.
“Ultimately it destroyed our family and destroyed both Pamela and me.”
Andrew admits the family first came to the attention of the authorities when one of the children was admitted to hospital for treatment on an injury.
He said: “There was a suggestion that I might have caused the injury.
“This absolutely wasn’t the case and that was shown very quickly.
“There was never any action taken against me but by that time social workers were involved.
“They took one look at my kids and decided they were overweight. They became involved and then they wouldn’t give up until they were all put into care.”
He added: “It was seen as a dreadful thing to be fat and they said Pamela and I and all the children were overweight.
“There were a few other issues going on at the time but basically we were a happy, contented family who desperately wanted to stay together.
“However, it seemed no matter what we did, they were determined to take the children away from us unless we could get them all to lose weight.”
Despite admitting he was a “bit overweight”, he remains convinced his children were happy and healthy, and should never have been removed from the family home.
‘What gave them the right to do that?’
Andrew said: “Pamela was a great cook who made amazing meals for us. We would sit down together and enjoy our dinner.
“We had no concerns at all about their health.”
Andrew insists his children were all physically active and taking part in a range of activities, including regularly going cycling with him.
He said: “Social work took over, put us in a house and told us what to feed the kids and how we should live our lives – what gave them the right to do that?”
After the children were taken away, most were fostered while the youngest two were adopted.
Andrew says he and Pamela’s lives fell apart.
“The stress we were living under had a huge affect on us,” he said.
“Our marriage crumbled under the strain and we separated. My health suffered massively and I moved away from Dundee.
“My children have all suffered because of what happened and their lives didn’t work out they way they should have.
“I’m now on my own and don’t like the way I am living but it’s a direct consequence of everything that happened.
“I’m no longer able to properly take care of myself.”
Andrew remains in touch with all of his children – including regular contact with 25-year-old Kerry Ann – other than the two which were adopted.
He said: “My dream would be that one day I will be able to see them again, but who knows?”
Trauma continues
At the peak of their plight, Andrew and his family made headlines across the country but they remained anonymous in order to protect the children’s identities.
More than a decade later, he has taken the decision to go public after his grandchild – Kerry Ann’s baby – was taken into care.
Kerry Ann has physical and mental health problems but says she is capable of looking after her child.
Both Andrew and his daughter blame their traumatic past for their current ordeal.
“I have to finally speak out,” he said.
“My daughter’s child, my grandchild, has been taken away and put into care.
“That is good enough reason for myself and Kerry Ann to agree to be identified and to put everything about this whole dreadful situation out there.”
Andrew believes the family’s history played a part in the decision to take Kerry Ann’s newborn away from her.
He said: “I am going to support Kerry Ann every step of the way in her bid to get her child returned to her.”
A spokesman for Dundee City Council said: “We do not comment on individual cases, particularly those involving vulnerable adults and children.”