Should parents lose custody of super obese kids?

[MorningGlory]

I confess, I'm torn on this one. I don't want the feds controlling anything in the home but ...... a 90 lb. three year old? What do y'all think?

[Guest LadyC]

that's a tough one too! a part of me wants to say yes... but then when does it stop? do we take the kids away at a certain weight? or do we take kids away just because mom buys them a hershey bar? i'm afraid that's where this would eventually take us.

[nebula]

"Losing custody" . . . is any one else bothered by this terminology?

Anyway, I would be supportive of the family being required to get therapy (for whatever is behind the over-eating/food addiction) and training on how to feed the child and how to eat properly themselves. Losing the child, though - don't like that.

[jodetoad]

There might be some medical condition involved. A child in my family has some condition that made him mature extremely fast, he was over 6 feet and had whiskers in 5th grade, and very fat also.

[mizzdy]

that's a tough one too! a part of me wants to say yes... but then when does it stop? do we take the kids away at a certain weight? or do we take kids away just because mom buys them a hershey bar? i'm afraid that's where this would eventually take us.

I soo agree, where would it stop? A neighbor thinks you've spoken too harsh of words to you child, calls the authorities they take the child away because their feelings were hurt, is where that can lead. If the parents were forcing the child to eat so they could break a record for childhood obesity then action would seem the logical step, the parents heads need to be examined if thats the case. Even in most cases of child abuse the child is not usually removed in the beginning unless the child is in terrible danger, at least not in any of the cases I have witnessed anyhow. Teach the parent how to care for the kid and teach the parent how to say no to the kid too.

shalom,

Mizz

[MrClark]

I've read several articles stating that the epidemic of obesity in the United States has gotten to the point where it threatens national security. The current number one reason military applicants are turned away is their weight. I've also read that if the draft needed to be initiated, the pool of candidates is too small to provide a viable fighting force. When the problem gets this bad I think it's the government's responsibility to step in and govern. Not that I necessarily agree children should be taken from their parents, but something needs to be done.

[MorningGlory]

I've read several articles stating that the epidemic of obesity in the United States has gotten to the point where it threatens national security. The current number one reason military applicants are turned away is their weight. I've also read that if the draft needed to be initiated, the pool of candidates is too small to provide a viable fighting force. When the problem gets this bad I think it's the government's responsibility to step in and govern. Not that I necessarily agree children should be taken from their parents, but something needs to be done.

The problem here is that a little bit of overreaching by the feds leads to a lot of overreaching. Government, neither state nor federal, should not be directing the way citizens feed their kids. I would support intervention by school authorities, which are local, if the child's health was compromised though.

[mizzdy]

I've read several articles stating that the epidemic of obesity in the United States has gotten to the point where it threatens national security. The current number one reason military applicants are turned away is their weight. I've also read that if the draft needed to be initiated, the pool of candidates is too small to provide a viable fighting force. When the problem gets this bad I think it's the government's responsibility to step in and govern. Not that I necessarily agree children should be taken from their parents, but something needs to be done.

If the govt. decided that what you are watching on tv is also determental to your childs health, should they be allowed to take away your child for that reason? I know thats a bit extreme yet its also what is ahead on that road if parents rights are eroded by the govt. Will we give the govt. the right to step in on our behalf if we become obese? It is not the govt. responsiblity to govern our homes, what we wear, watch, eat. etc. I know a lot of 'good ole boys' in Ala, TN and else where that are considered obese but let anyone invade none will have a problem getting up to fight the enemy. I agree obestity is rampant, people have no self control, self will, theres always something that is the underlining cause of all our problems. when we look at obesity as well as much of the health problems we see today, we need to take into account the additives, genetically modified foods, environment, not to mention we live in a fallen world which includes the soil and air.

I agree something needs to be done but it is not the govt. responsiblity do raise our children nor decide for us how to do so. Funny if we just took what the scriptures say all those things outlined in the OT on how to live we all might be a lot healthier and most importantly we all would be raising our kids in the way God intended. Just my nickels worth on the matter.

shalom,

Mizz

[other one]

I don't think this question is answerable for all situations. There are so many things that could be involved. I can see times where children should be removed from a family, but most of the time I think education and medical help is more in line.

[nebula]

If the govt. decided that what you are watching on tv is also determental to your childs health, should they be allowed to take away your child for that reason?

Yes, please = BAN TV!!!!