I'm from the United States and saw this news story last night. I know my country doesn't view either food or the human form in a healthy manner, and I'm curious whether your opinions differ from those of the people here I've talked to.
2007-02-28 07:10:43 · 19 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
The boy is 8 years old.
2007-03-01 03:34:28 · update #1
No, it's her child, if she's happy about putting him in an early grave who are we to argue?
2007-02-28 07:15:51 · answer #1 · answered by Leo 4 · 0⤊ 4⤋
No I don't think so. The child had a problem obviously but has anyone considered the kid's feelings in this?
Has anyone considered how SCARY and FRIGHTENING it is for a 8 year old to be taken away from his obviously loving mother and placed in a strange place with strangers? The upset and trauma this will cause an already vulnerable child? Does anyone trult think that this sort of upset will help the child in eating better?
NO!
In trying to "Punish" the mother for her failings the child's feelings have been forgotten. All children need to be with their loving families unless there is violence or a real reason they cannot be. The mother and child should have been given lots and lots of support to work through the problem with the child's weight and eating. Taking him away will just make things worse!
2007-02-28 08:32:44 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I think she should have, I think that mother was irresponsible and endangered the health of her child. I am all about letting a child have a positive body image, and if it's in their genetic makeup to be husky so be it. But this woman obviously did not promote healthy eating habits and regular physical activity. The child in question was 8 YEARS OLD!! That is almost THREE TIMES THE AVERAGE weight for that age. I can see a child that's eats right and exercises carrying an extra 20lbs, 50lbs, heck doubling the average weight, because that's the way they're built, but I can't believe a child that weighs the same as 3 of his or her classmates combined is a healthy child. That child's organs can't possibly keep up with that kind of weight gain; it has to be putting strain on the heart, lungs, pancreas and kidneys.
If a kid was starving to death, the child would be taken away from the parents; why don't we take them away when they feed them to death?
2007-02-28 07:46:19 · answer #3 · answered by CJ'sMomma 2 · 3⤊ 1⤋
The story is about an 8 year old boy in England who has the attention of social services because the parent(s) of the child have neglected to improve the health of this overweight child.
Child abuse isn't just a matter of physical or mental abuse but also of health abuse.
The social services are still currently working with the family in an effort to NOT take the child from the home.
Sounds like they're doing everything they can to support the family not destroy the family!
2007-02-28 07:26:28 · answer #4 · answered by KC V ™ 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Taking that child into care would have not been beneficial to either th child or the mother. I think she was making up for somthing lacking in his life by letting the child comfort eat. I think the Social Services have failed the child. The Mother and child both need supporting on this issue.
2007-02-28 07:17:16 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 0⤋
I could understand if this child was just 20 pounds overweight. Keep him at home and correct his diet. But this child is over 100 pounds overweight. That is ABUSE! Obviously the mother has a hard time telling her child that he cannot eat everything under the sun. Someone needed to step in before his weight problems kill him.
2007-02-28 07:28:22 · answer #6 · answered by Bookworm4124 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I don't think care is the answer, it would punish the child more than the parent and it's not the child's fault. I think parents like her should be forced to have a good old fashioned nanny live with her and teach her how to be a responsible parent.
2007-02-28 08:56:18 · answer #7 · answered by Blackheath rugby wife 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Shes trying to sort out the mess she got the kid into. Hes lost 1.5 stone in the last 2 months.
2007-02-28 08:38:32 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
i've read 2day that there's a 9 year-old girl who's the same size.
& as cruel as it mayb seen, the childrens long-term health should b considered in all this.
apparently he had lost a stone, awaiting the courts decision.
i hope he continues 2 lose weight & his mum has learned her lesson.
i would have taken him away.
& give him back when he's at his ideal weight.
i secretly hope that other parents, feeding their children unhealthy diets, will think b4 the Nanny-state Establishment looks their way.
2007-02-28 07:26:13 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Absolutely. Parents are responsible for their children. This lady clearly needed a wakeup call and she got one.
Obesity is a serious killer. People wanna talk about immigrants putting strain on the healthcare system, but we should really be talking about the morbidly obese.
2007-02-28 07:14:46 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
Honestly, even if that kid is tubby, if his mom is raising him in a way that is unhealthy as all hell, and if she obviously has no authority and no wish to take suggestions from outside... she should keep him
Taking that kid away from her and putting him in foster care may result in his having a healthier lifestyle, and delay greatly his likely early death... but it won't do him any good in his head, and I frankly prefer people who are in bad physical health, but reasonably sound of mind, if spoiled rotten, than healthy loons running around. Ailments of the body are generally much easier to diagnose and treat than those of the mind.
2007-02-28 08:04:16 · answer #11 · answered by Svartalf 6 · 1⤊ 2⤋