Is Child Obesity Child Abuse?

cars · Post by **cars** » Thu Jul 23, 2009 1:12 am

Case of 555-Pound Boy Attracts National Attention

The case of a 555-pound 14 year old teenager has legal and health experts throughout the country considering whether child obesity is a form of child abuse.

The boy is now in foster care and his mother, was arrested in June and charged with criminal neglect. The mother said she was doing all she could to help her son lose weight. Her attorney said if his client is found guilty, it would "set a precedent that opens Pandora's box."

So is the mother the enabler, should she be held accountable?

abbey · Post by **abbey** » Thu Jul 23, 2009 1:20 am

So is the mother the enabler, should she be held accountable?

Why just ask Accountable?

Sorry

fuzzywuzzy · Post by **fuzzywuzzy** » Thu Jul 23, 2009 1:28 am

where's the news item link?

mikeinie · Post by **mikeinie** » Thu Jul 23, 2009 2:12 am

No it is not abuse, no more that an adult being obese can be considered attempted suicide.

It is irresponsible, and it is wrong, but if the parent is found guilty of being abusive then what else can fall under that category? It opens the door to a lot of other stuff.

farmer giles · Post by **farmer giles** » Thu Jul 23, 2009 3:10 am

abbey;1220019 wrote: So is the mother the enabler, should she be held accountable?

Why just ask Accountable?

Sorry

:yh_rotfl:yh_rotfl:yh_rotfl:yh_rotfl:yh_rotfl

er sorry carry on

hoppy · Post by **hoppy** » Thu Jul 23, 2009 6:03 am

If you are a liberal left winger, yes, but killing unborn babies isn't.

Post by **Oscar Namechange** » Thu Jul 23, 2009 6:09 am

cars;1220016 wrote: Case of 555-Pound Boy Attracts National Attention

The case of a 555-pound 14 year old teenager has legal and health experts throughout the country considering whether child obesity is a form of child abuse.

The boy is now in foster care and his mother, was arrested in June and charged with criminal neglect. The mother said she was doing all she could to help her son lose weight. Her attorney said if his client is found guilty, it would "set a precedent that opens Pandora's box."

So is the mother the enabler, should she be held accountable?
You ask if obese children is child abuse? It is if you use them to sweep chimneys and make then run 20 miles a day with no water in blistering heat.

Anyway, what the feck has it got to do with Accountable. He's not even logged on.

Post by **Oscar Namechange** » Thu Jul 23, 2009 6:10 am

hoppy;1220099 wrote: If you are a liberal left winger, yes, but killing unborn babies isn't. Good morning Sir and America.

If you care to start a thread on abortion, i will contribute as i'm sure many others will.

minks · Post by **minks** » Thu Jul 23, 2009 8:21 am

I have always thought it was abuse. Crikey a parent is potentially shortening a childs life expectancy by allowing such poor eating habits. It sickens me to see obese children. What is a child learning here??:(

qsducks · Post by **qsducks** » Thu Jul 23, 2009 8:46 am

minks;1220203 wrote: I have always thought it was abuse. Crikey a parent is potentially shortening a childs life expectancy by allowing such poor eating habits. It sickens me to see obese children. What is a child learning here??:(

Yes, it's the easy way out of feeding them good, nutritional food. Instead, McDonalds, etc. has saturated the market with ads aimed at children...going to Mickey D's is considered a treat on my end. Made spaghetti sauce the other night with hidden ingrediants...zucchini, eggplant & red peppers (pureed them). Kids loved it.:-4

cars · Post by **cars** » Thu Jul 23, 2009 8:57 am

One can look at the obesity as it being, is it any different from the mother slowly killing her child by "over feeding/stuffing" him, rather then over supplying- feeding him with dangerous drugs? Both are bad for him & most likely will eventually kill him!

qsducks · Post by **qsducks** » Thu Jul 23, 2009 9:04 am

cars;1220245 wrote: One can look at the obesitity as it being, is it any different from the mother slowly killing her child by "over feeding/stuffing" him, rather then over supplying- feeding him with dangerous drugs? Both are bad for him & most likely will eventually kill him!

There was a show on the other night about the rising rates of child obesity...and was mainly focused on fast food restaurants. Hubs & I both agreed that yes, fast food places are loaded with junky food. And now McD's is saying they are serving salads, fruit snacks, etc. But their #1 products are still the big macs & fries plus the kiddie meals.

minks · Post by **minks** » Thu Jul 23, 2009 9:12 am

About a decade ago we had neighbors that were "large". They had young children, the little girl by the time she hit age 8 had boobs. Yes she was that "fat" It was horrible to see this poor little girl being a misfit already by ate 8. Her little brother was no better.

One day my oldest daughter was asked to babysit the kids. She was told to feed the kids and there were snacks etc. My poor daughter came home so upset and said she would never ever babysit there again. Said all that was there for her to feed the kids was junk. She was about 13 at the time and said it felt like she was starving because they meant to feed her too and she could not make a meal out of the junk they left for her and their kids. So very very sad.

Post by **Bryn Mawr** » Thu Jul 23, 2009 9:19 am

By the time the child is fourteen it's debatable but for young children, very much so.

qsducks · Post by **qsducks** » Thu Jul 23, 2009 9:22 am

minks;1220272 wrote: About a decade ago we had neighbors that were "large". They had young children, the little girl by the time she hit age 8 had boobs. Yes she was that "fat" It was horrible to see this poor little girl being a misfit already by ate 8. Her little brother was no better.

One day my oldest daughter was asked to babysit the kids. She was told to feed the kids and there were snacks etc. My poor daughter came home so upset and said she would never ever babysit there again. Said all that was there for her to feed the kids was junk. She was about 13 at the time and said it felt like she was starving because they meant to feed her too and she could not make a meal out of the junk they left for her and their kids. So very very sad.

That's pretty bad minks. What did they want your daughter to eat? chips & dip? Another thing I see sometimes is parents (usually young ones) putting soda pop in their babies bottles:-5...introducing them to soda....in my mind that is setting the kids up for tooth decay before they even get their adult teeth:-5..pretty gross.

minks · Post by **minks** » Thu Jul 23, 2009 9:31 am

qsducks;1220284 wrote: That's pretty bad minks. What did they want your daughter to eat? chips & dip? Another thing I see sometimes is parents (usually young ones) putting soda pop in their babies bottles:-5...introducing them to soda....in my mind that is setting the kids up for tooth decay before they even get their adult teeth:-5..pretty gross.

juice too

qsducks · Post by **qsducks** » Thu Jul 23, 2009 9:36 am

minks;1220297 wrote: juice too

I always used to delute the juice to 3 parts water & 1 part juice. Kids have been cavity free for years.

Bill Sikes · Post by **Bill Sikes** » Thu Jul 23, 2009 1:51 pm

cars;1220016 wrote: The case of a 555-pound 14 year old teenager has legal and health experts throughout the country considering whether child obesity is a form of child abuse.

The boy is now in foster care and his mother, was arrested in June and charged with criminal neglect.

SIZE="3"]U]So is the mother the enabler, should she be held accountable?

That she let her son get so fat is not necessarily abuse, but (at first sight, to a non USA poster) a charge of neglect seems entirely appropriate. Unsure of the definition of (criminal?) neglect in your country, though.

along-for-the-ride · Post by **along-for-the-ride** » Thu Jul 23, 2009 3:06 pm

That child did not get up to 555 lbs overnight. That happened over a period of years of poor nutrition, and poor judgement and ignorance. The mother indeed is responsible. Child abuse? Perhaps, but I don't think this is a legal issue. Right now, concern should be for the young man in question getting healthyin mind and body, and for the mother to be taught about proper nutrician, healthy excersize, and parenting.