Should parents of morbidly obese children be charged?

Question

I dont normally watch talk shows, but once in a while I will see one where these parents have kids who are 1 1/2 years old and weigh over 100 pounds kids who are 6 and are over 300 pounds.

My Question is if the state can prove their obeisity is due to massive over feeding and junk food should they be able to charge the parents with Child neglect and child endangerment?

Very few of these kids suffer from medical conditions that cause them to be so big. Some of the parents on the shows admitted to feeding a 3 year old 3 whoppers, 2 large fries and 2 milk shakes for lunch and the other meals were not any better. Some said ther kids ate a dozen eggs for breakfast and a pound of sausage, 10 peieces of toast.

Many of these kids suffer from bad health from the way they eat and many will die young

Fred C. Would you say leave a child in an abusive home so he/she has parents. No you move them to foster care. We are not talking about a pudgy kid here we are talking about a kid who should weigh 35 lbs and weighs 145. If you saw the show I am talking about the parents were matter of fact that they knew they were vastly over feeding the kids and feeding them junk. Many of the kids on the show already had weight related health problems.

gabykawa I agree for drugies, gamblers, and so on becuase their offense hurts them, but these parents are hurting their kids. When you have a kid you are responsible for their well being.

Answer 1

In some cases, I say "Yes" they should, because it isn't properly caring for your child. IMO, it's essentially neglect unless there is a medical reason.

I saw that show and it blew my mind. THOSE parents for sure should be in jail, they said they couldn't say "No" to thier kids..WTF??

Answer 2

first of all I would wonder what childs body would be hungry enough to eat that much food at once.even tho I am big I couldn't eat that much food at once no matter how hungry I was.

I would wonder too, if there is a problem somewhere physiologically that they just dont' know about yet? they are always discovering new things about our bodies they didn't know before.

second I would as a parent make more healthy fare available and let the kid eat as much of that as he wanted, and use the fattier foods as a side dish rather than a main course.

Third I would recommend the parents read the book called how to be naturally thin by eating more by jean antenello and bodyfueling by robyn landis. the author made another book specifically geared towards kids and the book would be based on the principles found in the first mentioned book here.

Punishment or blame is out of place here, no one knows why parents of the same kids can have some that are fat and some thin while they all eat the same types of food,(i have seen this, it is in my family too) tho some just eat more, question what is precipatating the child to be so hungry to eat more?

their bodies are very sensitive to famines, not quantity famines, quality famines, if they use lower quality stuff consistently for hunger they will find they will get fat eventually as their bodies make them over eat. but if they can fill up on the heatlhy fare first before eating the lower quality stuff over time say 1-3 years their bodies will recover, make needed adjustments in appetite, metabolism and fat burning etc, to return to a healthier weight.

what parents need are not accusations or punishment or threats but real knowledge of what is causing the problem and how to solve it to everyone's happiness and satisfication especially the children.

RRRR

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Answer 3

I think they should IF they don't have a trait that makes them that way. Being morbidly obese will just lead them on to bullying, low self-esteem etc. and is a horrible set back in life socially and physically. I was abused as a child and I know how horrible life was all the way up until 14, so it would be better for everyone if the child is taken away.

Answer 4

These same people that can't say NO to their kids now, will be saying something else in a few years when those same kids sue them for neglect.....and win. Parents of obese kids with no medical reason should be ordered to attend classes until they show improvement. Perhaps spending time learning will change their minds. I am also against parents being able to tell the schools that they cannot do the tests for possible obesity.

Answer 5

For parents of young, dependent children? I wouldn't charge them with a crime, but they should be at risk of losing custody if there are not inherent medical issues causing the problem. For parents of older children. no on both, only because older children have a certain level of independence - they could be getting healthy food at home, but indulging in bad food outside the home; or they could make healthier choices for themselves, even if their parents don't - so there would be a greater degree of latitude for juding parents of older kids. But with small kids who essentially eat whatever the parents provide without other choices, then Children's Protective Services should have some authority to remove children as a last resort.

Answer 6

The problem with that is that once you start charging parents of obese kids with abuse, other politicians will jump on the bandwagon and want to charge kids with too many cavities, bad haircuts, ugly clothes, etc.

Answer 7

I believe that overfeeding a child to the porportions that you described is abuse. Yes, in some cases the parent should have the child removed from their custody as a parent who contributes to a childs ill health to that extent is unfit.

Answer 8

So you charge the parents and put them in jail, now you have a little kid who is way too fat, with no parents, and nothing left to do but eat. Good solution! How about treatment and education instead?

Answer 9

That's socialist BS. Parents of morbidly obese children should be responsible for them. Charging them, imposing fines or putting them to jail solves nothing.
I wouldn't give them any kind of support though.
As far as I'm concerned, they're on their own.

(Same for druggies, alcoholics, gamblers, etc etc)

Answer 10

YES