Poll: Should parents of extremely obese children lose custody for not controlling their kids' weight?

[Scytail]

The full article can be found here: http://news.yahoo.com/parents-lose-custody-super-obese-kids-200342454.html

Yes! If the parents are the problem then the child should be removed from the household. I know this would add even more problems to an already underfunded and ineffective system but this should be added in as another type of child abuse.

OT: I enjoy how both sides of the argument in the article both state that they arent blaming the parents. Instead we should blame "advertising, marketing, peer pressure and bullying." If I remember correctly from my childhood, I believe my parents bought the food and controlled what we ate.

 

[frehls]

hue

 

[TheTurtleMan]

Yea, let's take obese kids and make them orphans as well. I honestly think that the children are just as much to blame as the parents, it's all about self control. Instead of just taking the children away to put into a foster home with strangers, we require a class to educate parents about the dangers of obesity.

I hope that we aren't to a point in society where you can essentially kidnap these children because of an unhealthy lifestyle.

 

[Dense_Electric]

No, enough government intervention. How long is it going to take people to figure out that IT DOES NOT WORK? Every time the government tries to get involved in something it's not a part of, it just creates problems without solving any.

 

[JoshGod]

It depends on the case, mostly i would assume it would not be the best option.

this should be added in as another type of child abuse.

 

[hotsauceman]

Im going to come out and say it. Its hard trying ti feed your kids 3 square meals that are healthy and fast to make. Especially if your a single parent who wakes early. Sometimes mcdonalds is a lifesaver for them. It not exactly there fault. Its the systems fault.

 

[McMullen]

Is this an isolated incident or does it happen often?

If it happens often, then it is a symptom and simply taking custody of the kids will only take time and effort away from finding a real solution, and will also just make people angrier with the government than they already are.

 

[Cheery Lunatic]

Adoption/foster system is already busting at the seams, bro.

And yeah it's horrible, but new parents generally adopt either a) babies/really young toddlers or b)physically attractive kids.

Maybe fining them would work better, idk, but it's horrible to actually take their kids away.

 

[Scytail]

Yea, let's take obese kids and make them orphans as well. I honestly think that the children are just as much to blame as the parents, it's all about self control. Instead of just taking the children away to put into a foster home with strangers, we require a class to educate parents about the dangers of obesity.

I hope that we aren't to a point in society where you can essentially kidnap these children because of an unhealthy lifestyle.

Whos responsibility is it to provide food for the family? Certainly not the kids. And yes, a class or even better, a whole course on healthy living for you and your family should be a requirement for them to get their kids back but to sit back and expect a little switch to go off in their heads to make them think that "Hey, my kid and I are total fat-asses. Maybe I shouldnt by 10 boxes of Twinkies a week" is really expecting a lot from parents these days.

 

[nothinghere]

Yea, let's take obese kids and make them orphans as well. I honestly think that the children are just as much to blame as the parents, it's all about self control. Instead of just taking the children away to put into a foster home with strangers, we require a class to educate parents about the dangers of obesity.

I hope that we aren't to a point in society where you can essentially kidnap these children because of an unhealthy lifestyle.

The frontal lobe of the brain handles your ability to understand long term consequences (or something like that) and that doesn't finish developing until your early 20's, So how do you expect a kid to be able to understand the effects of over eating? I don't think an average kid would be able to, I mean you may tell them and they could probally repeat it but to actually understand it?

Though I still think its a silly idea to put obese kids into foster care.

 

[RatRace123]

Nah, kids aren't completely dependent on their parents for food. Junior Mctubbs didn't get the way he is because his parents force fed him big macs for 12 years, he chose to eat that stuff and get that fat.
I know that in a lot of cases, parents are partly to blame because, well, kids can't shop or drive a car to get the food themselves, but kids can still ask their parents for healthier alternatives.
Or parents should be able to tell when their kids are turning spherical that it might be time to get them some help.
They shouldn't be taken away, because it's not entirely parents faults, there's blame to go on both sides.

Snip.

Also this, can't believe I forgot that. Like he said, some people are just fat, it doesn't matter how they got that way, they're just gonna be fat.

 

[Kryzantine]

I also say nonsense to the OP, but moreso for a matter of semantics.

How the bloody hell do we define, "extremely obese"? What do we, adopt weight standards for specific ages? What of kids with clinically confirmed weight disorders? Do we argue over the scales used in weighing? What is the difference between an "extremely obese" child and a "moderately obese" child? You may see some cases on the media of "extremely obese" children, and you may think the kid needs new parents who don't feed him so much. But then you let the media, organizations that do not have to purport the truth at all, define what is "extremely obese", and you'd be giving them even more power. How do we enforce this? Do we have social workers running around with scales and tape measures?

It's an idiotic idea, and no amount of refining would help on this matter. If you want to combat obesity, go the Japan route. Tax companies that don't encourage healthy food eating, weight loss and waist size reduction on their employees. This might work well in America, considering we also have worker discrimination laws, and it would be illegal to fire a worker for their waist size. It would be harsh, but effective.

 

[Scytail]

-snip-

Ok, first I'm 400 pounds, I have been gaining weight for years, since I discovered video games and gave up sunlight. I'm 20 years old now, but I swear, if anyone EVER said "Your losing your kids cause they're fat and lazy" I'D KNOCK THEM THE FUCK OUT. God damn elitist douche bags, some people are just fucking fat, and no amount of celery is gonna fix it. I knew a guy who almost never ate, ran every day and couldn't lose any weight, turns out he had a crap metabolism, he could have junk food, but he could only eat at certain times, and in heavily controlled amounts, so he gave up, he worked out to maintain his heavy set and just ate when he wanted.

Point is, some people are just different, and you shouldn't make kids LEAVE THEIR PARENTS because they parents can't afford to put out a huge spread of healthy food for dinner.

Im sure most everyone here packed on the muffin top when they discovered video games, myself included. But the difference is that you made a lifestyle choice to reject the sun for a bag of doritos and never turned back. On the other hand, your buddy in your example was on the recieving end of some unfortunate genetics and cant be blamed for being a big guy. Its not his fault and therefore shouldnt have his hypothetical kids taken away as long as he provides a healthy lifestyle for them.

 

[Dexiro]

In an idealistic world, yes, and parents should have their kids taken away for a ton of other reasons too. But their are complications and a lot of emotional distress for all members involved in most circumstances.

The alternative? Maybe parenting classes, and more activities for kids.

If a kid is gaining weight because of his parents, make the parents take classes and give the kid the option to join a club where he has a chance to do some exercising and learning the dangers of not controlling what you eat and such.

 

[enzilewulf]

Of coarse not. Some kids just don't have good matablims. (If any one could help me out with the spelling of that I would much appreciate it.)What if they are a late bloomer and grow tall and most of their fat just transfers and equals out? Besides kids need to be taken from more dangerous parents. Like oh the one who can't get into the military because their mental state is fucking messed up yet they can have a kid...or a racist.

 

[Cenequus]

I don't even need to enter this subject of what should or shouldn't be fully to sta a point. Wha I want to add to the discussion is the fact peole seem to take away from teenagers more and more of their free will. If someone is lazy or fat or a douche or a bully or whatever it's their fault not thir parents. Taking away the responsability away from them will only transform them into man-children still living with their parents at 35 yrs because they we're never given any responsability.

Now I'm not just pointing my point of view on the matter but also bring what the state on children rights is today(atleast in most European countries). Mind you I have no idea how many or which countries have in their legislation this rights since I'm talking about what is the legislation today in Italy.

I'll start from the childs right to not only be listened AND heard when they express opinions/choices etc but the obligation of the parents to respect their wishes. Of course there is a limit to this but since we're talking about food/video games/music choice etc those enter the child's rights. Now while this in a discussion might seem things we all agree we all know they by no means respected by parents which probably don'teven know them.

The point is,education doesn't mean telling a child what's good and what's bad but giving him certain degree of responsabilities over his growth so that when he's 18(or whatever is the adult age in other countries)he can actually take care of himself.

 

[thelonewolf266]

-snip-

Ok, first I'm 400 pounds, I have been gaining weight for years, since I discovered video games and gave up sunlight. I'm 20 years old now, but I swear, if anyone EVER said "Your losing your kids cause they're fat and lazy" I'D KNOCK THEM THE FUCK OUT. God damn elitist douche bags, some people are just fucking fat, and no amount of celery is gonna fix it. I knew a guy who almost never ate, ran every day and couldn't lose any weight, turns out he had a crap metabolism, he could have junk food, but he could only eat at certain times, and in heavily controlled amounts, so he gave up, he worked out to maintain his heavy set and just ate when he wanted.

Point is, some people are just different, and you shouldn't make kids LEAVE THEIR PARENTS because they parents can't afford to put out a huge spread of healthy food for dinner.

Here's an idea EAT LESS.
Oh and there's this thing called exercise its really not that bad.
For the record I think it would be stupid and wrong to take parents kids away because they are fat that said something needs to be done cause it s getting ridiculous now.

 

[Dense_Electric]

Im sure most everyone here packed on the muffin top when they discovered video games, myself included. But the difference is that you made a lifestyle choice to reject the sun for a bag of doritos and never turned back. On the other hand, your buddy in your example was on the recieving end of some unfortunate genetics and cant be blamed for being a big guy. Its not his fault and therefore shouldnt have his hypothetical kids taken away as long as he provides a healthy lifestyle for them.

It doesn't matter if it's genetic or the result of a poor diet, the simple fact is that it's not the government's job to be parenting. Unless the kid in question is being seriously abused, the government needs to mind its place and not stick its nose in where it isn't wanted or needed, because every time it does it just creates more problems than it solves (not to mention infringes on personal freedom).

 

[Keepeas]

Of coarse not. Some kids just don't have good matablims. (If any one could help me out with the spelling of that I would much appreciate it.)

It's 'metabolism'.

OT:
I have to say NO. While I DO agree that obesity is a big problem (no pun intended), taking the child away is NOT the solution. It would most likely backfire and cause the kid to be so traumatized that they may eat even more.
That goes from bad to WORSE.
Something should be done though. Perhaps required exercise and maintaining a healthy diet?

I was much fatter as a child then I am today. If I was taken away from my parents I think I would have gotten worse instead of better. My sister isn't fat an we both grew up in pretty much the same environment.
I believe there are two groups at fault: the Child who eats more than they should and the Parents who don't teach their child the importance of eating right and provide unhealthy food consistently.