Should parents lose custody of super obese kids?

[Openly Curious]

Parents should not lose custody of their children weather they are obese or super obese. The federal government has no business or right to come into our homes because they don't like what is happening with "we the people." I do believe it will be breaking our constitutional right to privacy.

I strongly believe that parents should be responsible for all of their childrens actions. The parents should check with their doctor's to see if there is any physical reason causing them to be obese. If there are no physical reasons then you should listen to the doctor's instructions and carry them out in the home take charge and stick to it.

If you give the government an inch they will take a mile and as the people of America we cannot afford to allow the federal government access to our homes. I think it is Michelle Obama's push toward eating healthy leading to this and it's Obama's health care take over that is responsible for this move to take obese children from their parents homes.

At one time they were demonizing smokers and now it is those children who are obese. It is my opinion it's only a move on Obama's part to keep the health care cost down not that there is any concern or care for the children who would be taken from their parents.

[Fez]

Here's an idea.

We start these "parenting camps" right? We build camps all over the place, and we lock parents and children in them.

We then force feed the children peas and brussel sprouts, and we have "marriage guidance" courses.

For the particularly bad marriages we use electric shock therapy and sleep deprivation.

Only then will we have a well behaved nation that toes the line.

Then we define the line

[methinkshe]

Here's an idea.

We start these "parenting camps" right? We build camps all over the place, and we lock parents and children in them.

We then force feed the children peas and brussel sprouts, and we have "marriage guidance" courses.

For the particularly bad marriages we use electric shock therapy and sleep deprivation.

Only then will we have a well behaved nation that toes the line.

Then we define the line

Absolutely, Fez - lol!

I mean, if parents refuse to do good, then we'd better compel them, hadn't we?

I get a distinct whiff of dictatorship...........................!

When will people learn - you cannot legislate goodness, or compel good behaviour through threat of punishment. Only Jesus can make people good and that only through His perfect life expressed through them.

Preach the Gospel - that's what's required to save children (and their parents) from gluttony leading to obesity.

[Fez]

Here's an idea.

We start these "parenting camps" right? We build camps all over the place, and we lock parents and children in them.

We then force feed the children peas and brussel sprouts, and we have "marriage guidance" courses.

For the particularly bad marriages we use electric shock therapy and sleep deprivation.

Only then will we have a well behaved nation that toes the line.

Then we define the line

Absolutely, Fez - lol!

I mean, if parents refuse to do good, then we'd better compel them, hadn't we?

I get a distinct whiff of dictatorship...........................!

When will people learn - you cannot legislate goodness, or compel good behaviour through threat of punishment. Only Jesus can make people good and that only through His perfect life expressed through them.

Preach the Gospel - that's what's required to save children (and their parents) from gluttony leading to obesity.

Eph 6:1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.

Eph 6:2 "Honor your father and mother" (this is the first commandment with a promise),

Eph 6:3 "that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land."

Eph 6:4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

There is a whole preach just sitting in that last sentence. A lot of the book is about family and marriage guidance.

Notice that Paul does not say "teach", which often in frustration leads to anger. He rather says bring them up "in the discipline and instruction of the Lord".

The best way to do this is through leading by example. If you project Godly living, and those around you see it, they will follow.

What are the advantages? When you lead, others naturally follow. There is then seldom the need for discipline, and when there is it should be loving discipline.

One of the advantages, I think, is that young women often marry men who are modeled in some way on their fathers. At least that has been my observation over the years.

So who do you want your daughter to marry?.......

[ColleenLovesMischief]

Depends...some children have medical issues that make them heavy...then there is lack of parenting. I recall a few years ago on a daytime trash talk show some woman with an 80 or 90 pound 3 year old screaming "if my baby want to eat fried chicken my baby eat friend chicken! Ummm yeah...I don't think food education will work there (it hasn't worked with my daughters grandmother who's son died at 430 lbs and age 36, and she keeps overfeeding my daughter saying I am starving her because she stays normal weight with me). Do I want to see the government control that...no! I have had my own run in's with children's services both as a child and an adult. As an adult that has been morbidly obese since I was around 10...I would say something needs to be done. It isn't a life anyone would want. (stop making kids clean their plates is my biggest thing...if they aren't hungry don't make them eat...kids won't starve themselves)

[ears]

If someone is very obese and can't help themselves then how can they help their child. I think the government should get involved only as far as the food companies are concerned. I've heard we are an overweight starving nation. I can imagine a young family would find it allot more costly to eat healthy than unhealthy. Tv commercials are a constant assault of junk to make us all start craving. You sure can't watch tv if you are dieting. There's allot of ways the government to help without taking a child away from it's home.

[darkest_red]

I don't believe it is right for parent's to lose custody of their children if they are over-weight. As other people have mentioned, more education could do a lot of good. Perhaps more relevent given the current economic state though, is the fact that healthy food is so much more expensive than the not-so-healthy food.

Another thing that could help the US especially is portion size...seriously, your portions are huge! I know so many English people who have gone to the US for a holiday and haven't been able to finish a single meal because the portions are so big.

[Believer1997]

Unless a parent is deliberately putting their child's health at risk (taking bets on how big the kid can get, etc.) or not getting necessary health care for child - the government doesn't have any business removing the child from the home. The most important thing is education - There are some children who are morbidly obese due to metabolic issues that require treatment; some kids have emotional eating issues and use food to make themselves feel better (they grow into morbidly obese adults who do the same thing). The single most contributing factor to obesity is soda!! People drink far too much sugary drinks and even diet drinks can make you fat - because studies show people drinking diet drinks are eating more food. Children who are eating proper meals, balanced with vegetables, proteins and carbs served in reasonable portions are going to be healthy - kids who are allowed to sit in front of a computer or t.v. all day and drink as much soda as they wish - are going to have serious, life-long issues. It's not as expensive as people think to eat fresh foods - it takes some planning and if you have gardening skills - get your kids involved and outside and plant dinner! What you save not buying junk food, soda and fast food - will buy a lot of food that is healthier.

[ColleenLovesMischief]

Unless a parent is deliberately putting their child's health at risk (taking bets on how big the kid can get, etc.) or not getting necessary health care for child - the government doesn't have any business removing the child from the home. The most important thing is education - There are some children who are morbidly obese due to metabolic issues that require treatment; some kids have emotional eating issues and use food to make themselves feel better (they grow into morbidly obese adults who do the same thing). The single most contributing factor to obesity is soda!! People drink far too much sugary drinks and even diet drinks can make you fat - because studies show people drinking diet drinks are eating more food. Children who are eating proper meals, balanced with vegetables, proteins and carbs served in reasonable portions are going to be healthy - kids who are allowed to sit in front of a computer or t.v. all day and drink as much soda as they wish - are going to have serious, life-long issues. It's not as expensive as people think to eat fresh foods - it takes some planning and if you have gardening skills - get your kids involved and outside and plant dinner! What you save not buying junk food, soda and fast food - will buy a lot of food that is healthier.

It isn't even junk food and fast food. If you are living on limited income (even if lucky enough to have food stamps) things like hamburger helper and homestyle bakes go a long way as far as feeding a family cheaply. When it is a choice between fresh stuff, and not eating for 3 or 4 days out of the month. And some parents just don't care and will give their children anything they want. Americans overeat massively...before I got sick I was taking in close to 4000 calories a day...and guess what...I wasn't eating sweets, or drinking soda, and was actually only eating about 2 times a day, but when pasta is what you can afford...

As I said before it depends on the situation.

[Guest]

I don't believe it is right for parent's to lose custody of their children if they are over-weight. As other people have mentioned, more education could do a lot of good. Perhaps more relevent given the current economic state though, is the fact that healthy food is so much more expensive than the not-so-healthy food.

Another thing that could help the US especially is portion size...seriously, your portions are huge! I know so many English people who have gone to the US for a holiday and haven't been able to finish a single meal because the portions are so big.

I've had some of my neighbors tell me the same thing, and many are from eastern Europe. Portion size is an issue also, but so is the food industry in the U.S. Much of the processed, prepackaged stuff (used in restaurants also) is designed to make a person want to eat more . . . so the companies can sell more food.