If this was a law would you agree with it?

Question

Parents of obese children ages 0-18yrs could be punished either by being forced to take nutrition courses and forced to enroll in low fee gyms to teach their children healthy habits. They would have to be monitored by a family doctor to check the progress of the child and if he/she hasn't lost weight and his/her eating habits are not the best the parents would lose temporarily lose custody of the children until they have been trained by nutritionist to but the right foods for their children. Anybody can accuse bad parents , including friends, family members, teachers, and doctors. This will ensure that obese children will lose weight and prevent health problems in their future. The causes for obesity in children will be researched and even if its for genetics they parents could be charged a fine for each obese children they have. Would you agree with this law?

Answer 1

First of all, this wouldn't be a law, it'd would go under the category of legislation.

Secondly, it's ridiculous. You defiantly are trying to make some good and benefits changes, but you can't change America's weight issues by making them go the gym like people have to go to traffic school after a driving violation. A program like this would have to be passed by congress and I doubt it'd pass.

Parents have to work, they can't take their child to the gym because legislation says so. And how is the government supposed to manage the weigh in? Are there supposed to be bi annual weigh ins for children?

You're also suggesting to break the Bill of Rights. Parents have the constitutional right to the custody of their children and having them taken by child protective services and many law suites to boot. Also, who would pay the monitoring doctors? This would not be paid for by health care and health insurance isn't a doctors pay roll.

This kind of legislation would cause a uproar,
and poltical hell for the politicain camapinging it. It's also put the American economy in jeopardy since you want to increase taxes and pull from health care fiscal finacing.

And umm..age 0 isn't considered alive, since 0 is nothing and they'd be dead.

Answer 2

This law would be alright, there are still some flaws. Some obese people have health problems that make them obese. And that wouldn't be fair for a child who has a thyroid problem, to put him into classes saying that his parents were wrong for making him not exercise and not eat healthy. Parents need to be informed on many, many things now a days. But punishing parents because they didn't monitor what the children ate is border-line ridiculous. Schools are just as much blame. There are coke machines scattered throughout Middle/Junior High. In elementary school, you could choose between fried chicken strips or a cheeseburger. It's not just parents. Children food commercials are all cartoons with shiny colors or being 'cool' is when you eat this product. Get rid of televisions in kids' rooms and minimize television use. That will get kids to either exercise their mind or their bodies.

Answer 3

No, I would not agree with this law for the simple fact that 90% of the parents out there use common sense. They are able to recognize if their child is gaining too much weight and then take measures to get it under control. With government encroaching more and more on our personal lives, we don't need to have everything legislated. I was an overweight child, but as soon as I developed an interest in boys and saw that they were not looking at me I put myself on a diet and exercise regimen and lost the weight over a summer vacation.

Answer 4

While I dont like the idea of the government getting involved in what should be a family matter, it's not a bad idea. There's only one problem. The majority of obese children have obese parents. You would have to make it a law that the parents also attend nutrition classes and have their food purchases monitored. Then there would have to be a certified nutritionist to keep track of weights and measurements plus planning menues for them. You would also have to take into account that a lot of the obesity is caused by fast foods and a lot of starchy, fatty foods that are easily and cheaply prepared.
Sounds like quite a plan, I'd vote for it.

Answer 5

No. I am all for policies that promote public health, but there is no requirement that people be healthy. So teach good nutrition. Preach the evils of obesity. Maybe even provide programs for people who want to improve their health or the health of their children.

That said, I can imagine egregious situations where the law may step in. It is against the law to starve you children to ill health. That is abuse. I imagine that its possible that some kids are so out of control that they are in immediate danger from their morbid obesity and the parents do nothing. That is abuse too.

But a fat kid is not in any immediate danger and any law that set punishment for parents of overweight kids is overreaching.

Answer 6

We have far to much government as it is! You can't fix everything in life with laws. Look around you, more people die in car wrecks or by drug overdose every year than from being obese.The speed limit and seat belt laws haven't stopped car wreck deaths and the war on drugs hasn't stopped overdoses.

Government isn't always the answer, I mean where does it stop. Should the government issue Calorie cards to everyone and if you chose to have fast food for lunch you won't have enough cards for dinner. Or better yet have the government take away the choice and tell us all what to eat, wear, say, and do!

VERY VERY BAD IDEA!

Answer 7

I think it would be wrong for any goverment to bring out a law like the one you have just decribed .parentscan make sure that their children eat healthly when they are with their children but they have no control of what they are eating when they are at school or when out playing with their freinds.i agree that it is a good idea to encourage parents to make sure that their children have a healthy diet.but this should also be taken up with the schools to as most schools only suply junk food at dinner time instead of a proper wholesome meal like they used to do.

Answer 8

No, because we have enough "monitors" in this country as it is. Put these kids outside and let them play with the other kids. It's not society's direct responsibility to take care of these children, it's the parents' responsibility. Take them to the park, play with them and let them burn that energy from sun up to sun down. It's going to take more effort from the parents because the price to live in certain places (NYC for one) is expensive, forcing parents to work 2 and 3 jobs to support the children.

Answer 9

I agree that parents should be held MORE accountable than their children, when it comes to actual CRIME, but to do this is absolutely insane.

Where do you draw the line? You are calling fat people criminals here, you do realize that, right? Or at least this "law" would make criminals out of fat people. Ok, what if the parents are fat? Do you mean to tell me that the GOV'T can tell you what foods to eat? What country is trying this crap? Is it Kalifornia?

Answer 10

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