I need some info on the 8 year old boy who was recently on the news. He weighed the same as a grown man.?

Question

I am entering a speaking competition and I am talking about obesity and healthy schools. I thought it would be good to include a little section on the 8 year old boy who weighed the same as a fully grown man. Does anyone have any information on this? Was he put into care? What illnesses was he at risk of? Please, any information is really appreciated. Thank you very much.

Answer 1

Connor McCreaddie weighs over 14 stone (218 lbs). Average height for an 8-year-old boy is 51 inches and average weight is 61.25 lbs.

I agree with one answerer who speculated that Conner may be suffering from Prader-Willi syndrome and his mother should take him to a neurologist for diagnosis. Since Prader-Willi is usually accompanied with mental retardation. Connor may need special education. I have not read anything that would lead me to believe that Connor is mentally retarded. Connor may also have a much rarer genetic disorder, Bradet-Biedl syndrome. A proper diagnosis should be made so that the best treatment can be given.

It seems likely, however, that Connor does have Pickwickian syndrome (obesity hypoventillation) and sleep apnea. Certainly, his obesity puts him at risk for heart and lung problems.

Perhaps his parents may consider a gastric bypass procedure. The laparascopic gastric banding procedure has a lower risk than Roux-en-Y gastrick bypass. The risk of surgery would have to be weighed against the risk of obesity.

A person who is obese has a higher risk for type II diabetes, hypertension, sleep apnea, cor pulmonale (right-sided heart failure), and depression. Obese children have a high risk for premature death. Dr. Colin Waine, the director of the National Obesity Forum in Nottingham, England, said that Connor is "at risk of dying by the time he's 30."

On February 27, 2007 Connor and his mother, Nicola McKeown, attended a meeting at the Local Safeguarding Children Board. After the meeting the board issued a statement saying it "was able to confirm that its hope and ambition is to enable this child to remain with his family. In order to move this matter forward, we have made a formal agreement with the family to safeguard and promote the child's welfare."

The agency provided no details about what Connor or his mother would have to do to fight his obesity.

Answer 2

Check out the BBC link below for info on the debate over whether or not he should have been taken into care. There are related links on the right with other stories they have written on him, as well as other childhood obesity stories which might be useful for your research. Good luck with your speaking comp.

Answer 3

the kid suffered from a condition which affects part of the brain that controls the sensation of having a full stomach. he is allways hungry. also people who suffer from this have a short lifespan and have learning difficulties. the condition is called Prader-Willi Syndrome. they will eat from a bin and have to be kept watch over 24/7. you know when your hungry, you know when you've ate enough, your stomach hurts. imagine being in a state of perpetual hunger where if you were'nt watched and supervised you would eat untill you quite literally exploded.

Answer 4

He Was Not put into care. His Mother Said " He has always been hungry and will always be hungry" They are worried about all the usual stuff that goes along with obesity there concern was that he was so young.

Answer 5

If he suffered from a brain condition maybe a slap around the head every time he felt hungry might have put the brain right.

Answer 6

He might loose some wieght if he was given the task of cleaning and tidying his council house garden, what an utter disgrace, doesn't say much for his parents!

Answer 7

No, not taken away from his mother. Interesting article in the Sunday Mirror (Carole Malone section) that might be helpful, albeit it is her own opinion she is expressing. Just "google" Sunday mirror

Answer 8

Sorry don't know the outcome, but he is a risk from heart disease and diabetes in later life.

Answer 9

the father of that little lad has now admitted he is to blame for that little lads condition due to upsets in the house between his wife and himself and the little lad would eat because he was frightened to see his mum and dad fighting so you would say the little lad was petrified

Answer 10

He is still at home at the moment,but his father has raised his ugly head, feeling sorry for himself saying his boy is fat because he witnessed his mother being beaten by his father...What a b*stard.