Instead of handing out treats to everyone this Halloween, one North Dakota woman says she'll be handing letters to children whom she believes are "moderately obese."

"I just want to send a message to the parents of kids that are really overweight," the woman told Fargo, N.D. radio station Y-94. "I think it's just really irresponsible of parents to send them out looking for free candy just 'cause all the other kids are doing it."

The letter reads:

"Happy Halloween and Happy Holidays Neighbor!

You are probably wondering why your child has this note; have you ever heard the saying, 'It takes a village to raise a child'? I am disappointed in 'the village' of Fargo Moorhead, West Fargo.

You [sic] child is, in my opinion, moderately obese and should not be consuming sugar and treats to the extent of some children this Halloween season.

My hope is that you will step up as a parent and ration candy this Halloween and not allow your child to continue these unhealthy eating habits

Thank You"

The woman emailed the letter after calling into the radio station Tuesday morning.

"They were chatting today and got a call from Cheryl out of the blue, who really wanted to voice her opinion about obesity, and that it really takes an entire community to solve the obesity challenge," said Y-94 Program and Music Director J.T.



"I'm contributing to their health problems and really, their kids are everybody's kids. It's a whole village," the woman added in the radio interview.



Dr. Katie Gordon, an assistant professor of clinical psychology at North Dakota State University who studies eating disorders, says children and adolescents, in particular, are very conscious of fitting in with peers, and that letter might hurt more than help.

"It's just that kind of thing that for some kids, if they're vulnerable, might trigger major problems," Gordon explained.



So, what do people around Fargo, where the woman who wrote the letter lives, think about her idea?



"Here, you get candy. You get a letter. Like that kid hasn't suffered enough?"

— Julia Roland, Fargo resident



"I would say that it's nobody's business really."

— Jesse Lehto, Fargo resident

"This is more of an issue that parents should be working with kids on. It seems inappropriate to me."

— Kent Wild, Fargo resident

Dr. Gordon said it's important to remember that one's appearance does not necessarily reflect whether a person has healthy eating and exercising habits.