One of the children of Dundee’s so-called “fat family” says he wanted out of the Anderson home at the age of nine.
Now 23 and a trained chef, Andrew Anderson is the latest relative to open up on living with the cruel label and the events that saw seven kids removed from their parents.
In 2008, his dad, Andrew Sr, and mum, Pamela, hit the headlines when they were told their children were overweight and would be taken into care if they didn’t shed the pounds.
Three years later, the couple’s fears were realised and young Andrew and his siblings were either adopted or fostered.
‘Out of control’
He said: “I was only nine at the time [when social services intervened] but I had made up my mind that enough was enough and I spoke to social workers.
“To my mind at that time our family life was out of control and I wanted out.”
Andrew today breaks his silence following dad Andrew Sr, sister Kerry-Ann and brother Tony’s exclusive interviews with The Courier.
He claims his experiences growing up have led to a troubled adult life.
Andrew says he is working hard to turn his life around and dreams of owning his own restaurant one day.
This week he returned to the park in Kirkton where the infamous family photograph – one which accompanied UK headlines – was taken.
It was a visit that evoked painful memories for him.
More than a decade earlier, Dundee City Council had insisted the Anderson family children would not be taken into care purely because of weight issues.
Andrew Jr says obesity wasn’t the only issue in the family.
He said: “Our home life wasn’t happy.
“I loved my mum dearly and she tried so hard to be there for all of us but there was a lot of tension and unhappiness in our house.”
When social services got involved, the family were moved into a supported unit run by the Dundee Families Project at a reported cost of over £100,000.
The lives – and weights – of the children were monitored. According to social services, the children remained “dangerously overweight”.
At meal times, a social worker allegedly stood in the room taking notes.
‘They thought they knew better’
Andrew Sr claims him and his wife were treated as “scapegoats” but Andrew Jr believes his parents simply weren’t willing to change.
He said: “Basically, I think they thought they knew better and weren’t willing to accept what was being offered.”
Andrew – whose mum Pamela died from leukaemia in 2017 – went on to spend time in children’s homes and also stayed with foster parents.
He said: “I can’t make excuses for my behaviour but I blame my childhood experiences for how I began to behave.
“I also went off the rails badly when our mum died.
“Although I didn’t see very much of her for several years, we would be in touch every so often and I did think the world of her.
“I was devastated and in a bad way when she died.
“I’m young enough to get my life back on track and I will work to get over what has happened to all of us in the past.”
He added: “I absolutely love cooking, something I believe I take from my mum.
“I’ve qualified as a chef and want to work in restaurants and my dream is to own my own one day.
“I’m working at anything I can just now to earn money and keep myself out of bother.
“I just feel it is so sad what happened and what we all got dragged into.”
A spokesman for Dundee City Council said: “We do not comment on individual cases, particularly those involving vulnerable adults and children.”
How cruel ‘fat family’ label led to decade of pain for Dundee dad and daughter