I hate to say it, but I'm a bit fattist. I'm not especially proud of this fact, but all too often, I dismiss the problems of overweight people as laziness or greediness. If I stopped to think about it more often, I wouldn't have such condescending thoughts about those in the plus sizes. Regardless of my own thoughts, one thing is certain; Obesity is a real and dangerous problem with obesity levels rising. In '96, around 15% of Britain's children were obese... and now, that figure stands at roughly 25%. It's a very worrying trend.

So, add the concern to the figures, and you've got a televisual hot potato. More and more programmes are looking at fat people, and looking to lift them from their predicament. Supersize Kids (More 4, Monday, 9pm) looked at two kids in particular; Ryan, a 26-stone 13-year-old from South London and Abby, a Yorkshire teenager weighing over 16 stone.

Both of these kids embarked on a journey of self-discovery through weight loss. Now, you may think that sounds a bit woolly and almost hippie for me, but that's because I've changed (for today at least). You may expect me to quip 'the fat freaks were made to huff and puffwards 'round a field until they spewed... well that's what you get for eating 16 Mars Bars ain't it tubby?'. The thing is, I can only sit back and take someone seriously if they take the problem seriously themselves. For example, in a Gillian McKeith show, all of my venom is saved for the joyless presenter. I have always saved some sympathy toward those taking part, as I don't believe bullying fat people will ever reap any kind of reward.

The teens in this show were already overly conscious of their size and were at breaking point due to taunts by other kids. Like most people who have done something wrong (and the 'wrong' in this case is over eating and not enough exercise), they are already aware of their shortcomings. Hollering it across a street ain't helping anyone is it? So, when they come to terms with the fact that only radical changes to their lifestyles and diet will help them and change people's perceptions, do they get motoring.

Ryan, the focal point of the show, is huge. At 13, his dreams of becoming a Premier League footballer were easy to scoff at. Of course, that doesn't help him, but he was keen and eager to please. When faced with the man who was to help him, he understood that this was his way out. So, unusually for a teen, he threw no strops and got on with it. Initially. Ryan obviously enjoyed the phsyical aspect which for once, didn't include baying-for-blood teenagers giving him grief. Sadly, the problems ran deeper. Ryan secretly ate which meant, on his first weigh-in, he'd actually gained weight. Instead of coming clean and getting on with it, he lied until he was blue in the face.

Abby however, was more depressing viewing. Abby's self confidence was so low, that instead of looking at her situation and feeling positive about getting herself out of it, she beat herself up by cursing herself. One diatribe saw Abby scolding herself for being too "greedy" when she should be out doing stuff and messing about with boys. Abby's first weigh-in saw her break down in tears but thankfully, once the keep-fit started, she gamely tackled her problem and made a real go of it.

At the close of the show, both teens were shown to be making good progress, but that really wasn't the point of the show. Really, the pay-off was to highlight the huge psychological problems faced by fat teens in a world that is obsessed with image. Think back to your own school days. You could have one lad, who treated girls with complete contempt after having 'got off' with them... but they'd get an easy time of it compared to the abuse suffered from people who merely overeat. Bigger kids have their confidence and self-esteem kicked out of them on a daily basis, so it's hardly surprising that most just give up and become recluses. This documentary wasn't exactly powerful, but as food-for-thought, it was very stimulating indeed. [Mof Gimmers]