overweight-child

Oh boy this is a tough one people!

You’ve probably seen overweight infants and toddlers over the years and thought to yourself, “How could the parents let them get that way?”

Well yesterday the CBS News website reported that a 200 pound 3rd grader has been removed from their parents’ custody. The child – and the parents – are being kept anonymous, but the story has already ignited a firestorm with many people saying that the Cleveland family court overstepped by placing the 8 year old in foster care.. So did the local officials go too far?

On one hand, you always have to place the safety of the child first and foremost. Childhood obesity is no joke and as a leading researcher states – “children with obesity-related conditions like diabetes, breathing difficulties, and liver problems could die by age 30 if no action is taken”.

But whose responsibility are our nation’s children? Is it the parents or the government? At the end of the day we allow children to live in homes full of cigarette smoke, knowing full well that second hand smoke causes illness and potential death. Should these children also be removed and placed in non-smoking foster care? And where do you draw the line? At what weight should a child be considered in danger?

The mother of this particular child says people are trying to make her appear unfit and as though she doesn’t care or love her child. I don’t think that’s true at all. And I think there’s a huge difference between “unfit” and ignorance. The mom goes on to say that she’s working towards a lifestyle change, and the implication is that the mother in question has weight issues of her own. We’ve tackled obesity many times here on the site and as I always argue there’s always so much more going on than simply bad eating habits.

Personally I think this ruling sets a very dangerous precedent. Of course I want to prevent obesity as much as anyone, but I’m not for taking children away from their parents unless their behavior places their kids in actual imminent danger. I certainly would have liked to see an intervention of sorts in this case – but one that helps the family get healthier rather than a punishment. What is placing this child in foster care going to do? How will the mother regain custody of her child? I just can’t see the logic in this ruling or how it’s going to help anyone get their lives back on track.

But what do you think? Should this child have been placed in foster care? Do you think the mother is unfit? And what do you think the solution should be for our nation’s obese children?