UK only please:Pre teen child obesity, Is this a form of child abuse and should the parents be prosecuted?

Question

For the first time ever on Q&A I was truly shocked by some of the answers coming through, So I have decided to split the question between the US and the UK to try and find out how different our views are on this.

Oh yeah, and of course the Avatar isn't me, But remember he is somebodys son and she loves him......................... probably!!!

Answer 1

Parents are definately responsible for their overweight children. As toddlers they are introduced to nuggets, fish fingers and chips, with canned peas as veg!! Where are the fresh veg, salads and vitimins! But then you just have to look at the average parent! Too lazy, or too young to truly understand the importance of nutition. Until the age of 16 I don't reckon a child has the right to decide what to eat. Fresh foods should be their 95% balance with the odd take out once a month! I moved to the UK four years ago and have four kids. ALL their friends from school are totally amazed that they eat fruit, salads and vegetable EVERY DAY??
Although I think prosecution is a little harsh, I reckon if the government prosecuted parents for their childrens diets, rather than for not sending their kids to school, half the crime rate and truancy rate in the uk would fall. Diet plays an important behavioural role in life ... together with health care, asthma, skin conditions, cancer, and stress. I do believe parents should be brought to understand their errors, and I do believe that something has to be done in order to save the youth from this awful lifestyle they are being taught!

Answer 2

well my answer is still the same... NO parents should be prosicuted as you would also have to prosicute parents who smoke informt of there children and those who nurse their child when smoking.......

but, going to go into over weight children we should also ask the question about under weight (for reasons of the child not eating due to TV and Magazine preasure) or illness. Again so hard to prove that this is neglect.

What about the parents that subjct there child to passive smoking, surly this is just as bad if not worse. after all most children dont have a say when it comes down to passive smoking but when it comes down to here son/daughter have this desert, they can say no thankyou. Mine often do if they not hungry.

the reason why many children are over weight is not because of the parents soley it is also down to tv ads and in my case the fight against grand parents and other children. many times do parents say no to turn arround and find that the grand parents have given the child the sweets any way.

More to the point have you ever been shopping in the UK. 1 bag of apples containing about 6 will cost at least £1.20, veg and fruit both priced so high and will not last the week. yet a bag of chips can cost 98p for a massive bag, and last a month or more.... on such a low income like much of the UK, which are you going to buy.

if the govenment want overweight children and adults to change they need to change the prices of food that is good for you, so that people can afford it. i do my best to make sure that my children get the '5 a day' but with the prices so high it is very costly.... no matter if you have 1 or 5 children it makes no differance to the cost.

so who realy should be prosicuted. and as for the refusal and cost of NHS (UK) tratment why should the be different rules for over weight people compared to smokers and alcholics.... arnt they all in the same danger????

Answer 3

I don't think you can always blame the parents. Most of the time, I would say that a child's intake is entirely the parents' responsibility, but with current advertising and peer pressure as they are, and more children having more independence at a younger age, then it can't all be the parents' fault.
Besides, some people get fat or obese even on a decent diet, and that definitely isn't anyone's fault.

Though the chubby and irresponsible mums taking pizza and fish and chips to slip through the school railings every day to their overweight faddy offspring horrified me - they clearly haven't any parenting ability, nutritional knowledge or even the common sense they were born with!

Answer 4

I agree with another poster who said the parents need a better education into nutrition. Some though are just plain lazy and yes I think do need to be prosecuted (or something lesser) In the area I live, the amount of primary aged children that walk to school eating crisps and chocolate is phenomenal!!!

They had a fruit/vegetable tasting session in the school a while back and some of the children were not aware what some of the items were!

I think they need their parents to become better educated on what is good for them and what isn't. Obviously all children want what is bad for them, but they should have it only in moderation.

Answer 5

It has bad consequences for the children, to be overweight before they can control any of it. And I have to say that if its not the parents doing, then whose is it? But as for prosecution......who made being fat such a terrible thing that you can be prosecuted?
It sounds all wrong, but if it works then I would actually support it. I'm sure a lot of fat people know that it is their home environment that lead to it at least partly, although I know that genetics and emotional makeup also play a factor. I know that because my mum NEVER EVER bought anything nice, and I mean that, she was really mean to us!! but then end result is, I never had a chance to get overweight even if I wanted to.
I heard that it is sugary drinks like coke etc that have lead almost exclusively to obesity. It would make sense, a 500ml bottle of coke has 50g of sugar in!! That is a LOT of sugar, and is over half of the daily amount recommended!

Answer 6

No, I do't think they should be prosecuted. Parents do so much wrong - breaking up families, drinking, violence etc etc, that I think it would just be focusing on something that can easily be sorted out. Maybe I feel self righteous - none of my four children is overweight.
As children, we used to see the nurse and doctor every year for a check up. If a child is obsese, his parents should be called in and a course in food technology and nutrition put forward.
No one wants to be obese. No wants eats too much food because they're hungry There are emotional issues that need addressing, not prosecuting.
I have to add a bit - can you imagine the effects of threatening parents with prosecution? They will literally starve their children. It's bad enough now with parents so afraid their kids are too fat that they encourage them to diet, check labels etcetc. There are a lot of crazy parents out there.

Answer 7

I think it is, parents can control what their kids eat as they buy it and keep these foods in the house! I know some kids eat bad food when they are at school and out at the weekends but this is when they are older and bad habits have already taken ahold. It's pure idleness on the parents part not to cook decent meals and teach their children about food. I'm not sure about prosecuting them but I do think they should hold themselves accountable for their childs health!

Answer 8

Child obesity is becoming a problem.
However, it comes down to many things.

Who do we blame?

Parents should take responsibility to ensure their child receives a good healthy diet, and gets plenty of exercise.
Schools should promote healthy eating, and provide plenty of activities for children to keep them active and fit.
Advertisers should ensure products aimed at children are healthy and nourishing.

Kids like the odd packet of crisps, chocolate bar, sweets and such, and this is not a bad thing, provided it is balanced with a healthy diet and exercise.

There is a case against some with regard to your question, but who is it?

I doubt you will get a true answer to your question, but I trust my comments will be of help to you,

Answer 9

It probably could be viewed as a form of child abuse, but I don't think the parents should be prosecuted. They should be educated and supported to help their children to consume the healthiest diet possible.

Answer 10

Yes, its abuse. But I don't think they should be prosecuted. There are already alot of kids being raised in foster care. No need to add to that. Eating patterns are learned, just like alot of things. If a person wasn't taught better, they won't eat better. Eating is also a medication to some people....they comfort themselves with food, eat due to depression, or eat too much just because they were taught to clean their plate. I think portions should be smaller. I think people should be taught better. But I don't think kids should be torn out of a loving family because they weight too much.