Obese boy may be taken from parents

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Level -> Obese boy may be taken from parents (2/25/2007 4:33:16 AM)
AN eight-year-old boy who weighs 14 stone, more than three times the average for his age, may be taken into care if his mother fails to improve his diet. Connor McCreaddie, from Wallsend, near Newcastle upon Tyne, has broken four beds and five bicycles. The family claims to have a history of intolerance to fruit or vegetables. On Tuesday his mother and grandmother will attend a formal child protection conference to decide his future, which could lead to proceedings to take him into care. Connor could be placed on the child protection register, along with victims of physical and sexual abuse, or on the less serious children in need register. The intervention of social services is a landmark in the fight against youth obesity. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/health/article1434607.ece

cjenny -> RE: Obese boy may be taken from parents (2/25/2007 5:09:52 AM)
There was a girl I went to elementary school with, she was the 'fat girl' that every school has. I can remember my mother tsk'ing over M's state asking why the parents did nothing. That was back in the days when gym class was mandatory & a daily event. When does having a fat UM turn to abuse? Tough call in my mind.

Aileen68 -> RE: Obese boy may be taken from parents (2/25/2007 5:22:16 AM)
An eight year old has no say in his diet and food choices. It's up to the parent to do the shopping and choosing. I'd find it hard to believe that a child could get that obese unless the parent was purchasing junk food. It doesn't take a lot of intelligence to know that a snack of either an apple or a red bell pepper is more appropriate than a bag of chips. If your child grows up being exposed to healthy eating, they'll carry that with them all of their lives. My youngest wee one eats perfectly. She wakes hungry and eats about three breakfasts throughout the morning. She grazes every few hours and it tapers off towards the end of the day. Dinner for her is usually some veggies...usually raw and either a yogurt or some cheese. My older one is the exact opposite. She hates food in the morning and gears up as the day progresses. She'll eat right up until bedtime. I have to be diligent that her food choices are healthy because of her eating patterns. Chips, cookies and such are treats to be had occasionally. Fast food is rare. Both are at healthy weights and are rarely sick. I rambled...the main gist is that it is the parents responsibilty to feed their children in a healthy way until that child is old enough to make their own decisions. To have a child that overweight, unless it's medically caused, is abuse in my book.

NorthernGent -> RE: Obese boy may be taken from parents (2/25/2007 5:27:56 AM)
The article title isn't going to do a lot for the poor lad's confidence "Fat Boy......". Dear me, don't these reporters have a heart? This thread has all the makings of the usual self-determination versus public health/education/awareness. At the heart of this, is the notion that letting your child reach such a weight is child abuse. I'm sure a good case could be put forward to suggest it is and it isn't. Giving birth and feeding your kids is not being a parent, even a burrow owl is capable of doing this. The idea of parenthood is to prepare your kids for a long, healthy, prosperous, happy adult life. Now, this kid is off to a really bad start and he's missing all of his appointments to get some help (as per the link) - this smacks of the parents not giving a fuck. I'm all for self-determination, but if these parents can't care for their kid, then what's the alternative? Let the kid eat himself into oblivion? It sounds like the parents could do with a spot of education and these are quite probably values passed down from generation to generation so I have sympathy for the parents and having their kids taken away from them will be a right kick in the nackers. There's a case for being cruel to be kind however, IMO. The ideal solution is to educate the parents to understand the responsibilities of parenthood and, as a result, turn the corner and start acting like parents. If this doesn't work, as a last resort, someone needs to help this kid.

Aileen68 -> RE: Obese boy may be taken from parents (2/25/2007 5:29:22 AM)
It didn't say in the article, but do you know if the parents are overweight?

NorthernGent -> RE: Obese boy may be taken from parents (2/25/2007 5:38:36 AM)
No idea. Why do you ask?

tulipgoose -> RE: Obese boy may be taken from parents (2/25/2007 5:40:26 AM)
This is just so sad.... On many levels. Yes, it is typical for overweight children to have poor eating habits, but not by any means the only reason a child could be. Obviously it was stated in this case that fruit and veggies were not common in the household. I was always "the fat kid" and ya know what? I ate healthier than anyone else in my classes! I was merely cursed with horrible genes, asthma, and cerebral palsy. When I was very little I was "average" as far as weight goes, but as soon as I started elementary school I was put on prednisone for a year straight, and "blew up" in weight. To put it in perspective they rarely give the stuff to adults who are extremely sick these days for more than a week or so. I have never had much luck losing weight. I became a vegetarian a few years ago and still didn't lose a pound. Some people are just heavy. For medical reasons. Don't always blame the parents or lack of motivation for healthy eating and excericise. Sometimes it IS something beyond obvious.

Aileen68 -> RE: Obese boy may be taken from parents (2/25/2007 5:49:04 AM)
I think that when you see kids that are overweight due to diet and not medical reasons, the parents tend to be overweight also. It's poor habits that just get passed on.

tulipgoose -> RE: Obese boy may be taken from parents (2/25/2007 5:51:30 AM)
I disagree on this. My biological parents are also over weight and not due to poor eating habits. Medical includes genetics. So, with parents and children being overweight it can go either way.

untamedshysub -> RE: Obese boy may be taken from parents (2/25/2007 5:53:53 AM)
have they checked to make sure its not a medical condition? adding to what he is eating his body may not be breaking down what he is eating. If they body cannot process frutis or veggies it may not be able to process other things as well . Sounds like he needs a good check up before they make any determations. For those of us who have no idea what a stone is how much does the child weigh?

Aileen68 -> RE: Obese boy may be taken from parents (2/25/2007 5:55:26 AM)
That's why I said diet and not medical. If you fill the shelves in your home with cookies and chips and eat highly processed carbs on a regular basis...you're gonna put on weight. If your child sits in front of the tv all afternoon when they get home from school instead of going outside to play, they're going to put on weight. Those are things that a parent can and should control.

untamedshysub -> RE: Obese boy may be taken from parents (2/25/2007 6:02:38 AM)
I have a 17 yr old sucidial child she was very thin until they put her on meds one month she gained 40lbs. I do not know what they are feeding him but in the picture he looks tall for an 8 year old he could have a medical condition. Eating junk food is not the only reason a person is overweight. She has slimmed down since we changed her meds but she is not back where she started so that is a whole different set of issues.

NorthernGent -> RE: Obese boy may be taken from parents (2/25/2007 6:05:18 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Aileen68 I think that when you see kids that are overweight due to diet and not medical reasons, the parents tend to be overweight also. It's poor habits that just get passed on. Agreed. There was a study undertaken in Britain recently which confirmed that obesity and poverty are linked. The highest rates of obesity are in the area with the the highest rates of unemployment - Easington District Council. There is a cycle of poverty and low aspirations. If a parent has been brought up with low aspirations, then there is a fair chance these values will be passed down to kids, who will follow suit. I know the place in question - Wallsend - it's an area of Newcastle and it's a rough hole with high levels of unemployment. The answer to the problem is investment in the area to generate economic growth and opportunity, which in turn will begin to change values of low aspirations towards achievement and actually wanting a decent education. The downside is, someone has to pay for this investment - we seem to have a few quid spare to plough into military games - let's redirect this money.

Aileen68 -> RE: Obese boy may be taken from parents (2/25/2007 6:07:17 AM)
Ok...one more time, not including medical conditions and medications that cause one to gain weight...weight is generally controlled by the type and amount of food that one consumes. Add to that the physical activity and you get an end result. The fact that the parents have skipped appointments with nutritionists tends to show that they are not very concerned about the health of their child.

NorthernGent -> RE: Obese boy may be taken from parents (2/25/2007 6:10:27 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: untamedshysub Eating junk food is not the only reason a person is overweight. Untamed, I agree with this but, the rule is, obesity is caused by a sub-standard diet. Also, the evidence in Britain suggests that unemployment, poor diet and obesity are linked.

sleazybutterfly -> RE: Obese boy may be taken from parents (2/25/2007 6:14:24 AM)
As long as its not solely something from a medical standpoint and the parents are given a chance to change things, I agree that the child should be taken away for abuse (not for life, but until the parents wake up). That child not only has a lifetime of being unhealthy (and for a child at that age to be big enough to break a bed, no one can tell me he is healthy), but he has a lifetime of being cast out by society ahead of him also. I don't know how many times a day I see an overweight child (not pudgy, but fat) at the grocery store. Have you ever taken a look at the parent and whats in the cart? Its all junk, chips, processed foods, soda, high in sugar juices..etc., its very rare to see fresh or frozen veggies, or lean meats in the cart instead. As parents, we have control over what is put into our children while they are young. If we start them out on junk, its almost impossible for them to make the right choices later because their bodies get accustomed and addicted to what was in the foods. We are the frontline in stopping childhood and adult obesity, and we have the responsibility to those kids to make sure their lives are as good and fulfilling as possible. Don't start in on me how you are fat and happy, it won't work. I am not talking about adults here, I am talking about little kids that will be made fun of and tortured by their peers in school for being the way they are. No child is happy being fat, if nothing else..because others won't let them be. If the parents won't start doing something about it, someone has to. If that means the state has to step in, so be it. I would rather have a million unhappy parents, than one obese child trying to make it in a world that will make their lives miserable, not to mention the shorter life they will have because of health problems.

untamedshysub -> RE: Obese boy may be taken from parents (2/25/2007 6:15:39 AM)
That is very true its like a math equation to lose weight you must consumse less calories than you burn. What about the father there was no mention of him and if the parents missed appts how would anyone know that is priveliged information and should not have been released, just as the hearing should not have been relased as the child is underage.

pahunkboy -> RE: Obese boy may be taken from parents (2/25/2007 6:16:16 AM)
The US already has a law- one can not sue fast food for obesity. This, a worry, per the HUGE tabacco win. Watch teh film "supersize me" the punchline- is the it can kill you. [many processed foods are JUNK right up there with fast food.] Drink CHUG drinking water all day long. 90 ozs. and do a colon cleanse from time to time.

Aileen68 -> RE: Obese boy may be taken from parents (2/25/2007 6:16:36 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: untamedshysub I do not know what they are feeding him but in the picture he looks tall for an 8 year old he could have a medical condition. I only saw one picture of him from the shoulders up. Were there more pictures?

Level -> RE: Obese boy may be taken from parents (2/25/2007 7:50:44 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: untamedshysub have they checked to make sure its not a medical condition? adding to what he is eating his body may not be breaking down what he is eating. If they body cannot process frutis or veggies it may not be able to process other things as well . Sounds like he needs a good check up before they make any determations. For those of us who have no idea what a stone is how much does the child weigh? I think 1 stone equals 14 pounds, so he'd be 196 pounds?

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