should morbidly obese children be taken from parents?
Replies
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Call me a jerk for my honesty but yes i definitely believe this to be true. Killing them slowly and ruining their future by introducing them to bad habits way too early.0
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I don't have an answer to this, but I can say it's sad when you see someone bring in a morbidly obese 4 year old with obstructive sleep apnea and other medical problems into the hospital :frown:. She has such a looonnngg road ahead of her already. At 4 you should be more concerned with imaginative play than whether or not you stop sleeping at night.0
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In the United States, at least, we all receive basic nutrition education in school. I learned in kindergarten (and it was reinforced every year after) what foods were healthy and to limit things like cake and candy. This is already being provided. If people are ignoring it, there isn't much anyone can do.I would love it if everyone saying, "education, counseling, nutrition coaches for all" would say how much extra a year they're willing to personally spend in taxes to pay for it.
All of a sudden it'll become, "Why do I have to spend my money on someone else's chubby kids?!?"
It doesn't seem like there's much point in teaching kindergartners what's healthy to eat. Maybe it's not a matter of people not listening, maybe we should be teaching the parents and not the children.0 -
I worked in the group home system and worked with kids on Foster home.. Trust me, they are better off with their parents if the worst of their problems are being over fed or not being taught proper nutrition - that's something that can be taught, and their weight is something that can be fixed or changed, but to strip them from their family and put them with strangers that may or may not abuse and mistreat them is just wrong. There are better ways.
^^^ THIS!0 -
In the United States, at least, we all receive basic nutrition education in school. I learned in kindergarten (and it was reinforced every year after) what foods were healthy and to limit things like cake and candy. This is already being provided. If people are ignoring it, there isn't much anyone can do.I would love it if everyone saying, "education, counseling, nutrition coaches for all" would say how much extra a year they're willing to personally spend in taxes to pay for it.
All of a sudden it'll become, "Why do I have to spend my money on someone else's chubby kids?!?"
We got that in my school too... and then I would go home and refuse food because it was "unhealthy"... yeah... my parents thought I was turning into an 8 year old anorexic... :indifferent: So bad they would darn near force me to eat even if I were full.
I would pay those taxes i mean heck school's got sex education might as well slip in true health and fitness....STD's aren't the only killers or America's youth and adults...just being honest0 -
someone needs to execute the mother of Honey BooBoo0
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It begins in kindergarten, but it gets taught again each and every year until you graduate at 17 or 18 years old. (At least it did in my district.)
In the United States, at least, we all receive basic nutrition education in school. I learned in kindergarten (and it was reinforced every year after) what foods were healthy and to limit things like cake and candy. This is already being provided. If people are ignoring it, there isn't much anyone can do.I would love it if everyone saying, "education, counseling, nutrition coaches for all" would say how much extra a year they're willing to personally spend in taxes to pay for it.
All of a sudden it'll become, "Why do I have to spend my money on someone else's chubby kids?!?"
It doesn't seem like there's much point in teaching kindergartners what's healthy to eat. Maybe it's not a matter of people not listening, maybe we should be teaching the parents and not the children.0 -
I would love it if everyone saying, "education, counseling, nutrition coaches for all" would say how much extra a year they're willing to personally spend in taxes to pay for it.
All of a sudden it'll become, "Why do I have to spend my money on someone else's chubby kids?!?"
No one is willing to have their taxes increased to take care of a problem that they don't feel they are "personally affected by". Given that there are millions of people without adequate food, shelter, employment, health care and a ton of other things which people already yell about having to pay for.. Where will you get the funding to educate anyone ? where will the funding come from to remove the children and where will the funding come from to ensure that the family who takes them will be a 'good' family? Why even bother talking about it..it will never happen - none of it. No one wants to risk being 'socialist' by taking care of others. We can't even protect the weakest and most disadvantaged among us now, who's going to pay to have fat people educated about nutrition? and how will you even enforce it? Are we going to hire "fat police" now?
The whole conversation is pointless. Until humanity starts showing some signs of 'humanity' we're all fooked. Corporations don't give a fark if you're fat - actually it's in their best interest to keep you as unhealthy as possible so they can keep selling you medications you don't need, diet plans that don't work and the lowest quality 'food' that can possibly be produced for the least cost to them. No one who is in any position to be able to do anything about it cares and quite frankly most other people have enough trouble getting their own needs taken care of much lest caring about anyone else's. People pay lip service to all these concerns but nothing ever gets done about any of it - if our governments actually worked for the PEOPLE it would be a vastly different world.0 -
someone needs to execute the mother of Honey BooBoo
One word: sketti.0 -
From reading the article it is a smallish number of really morbidly obese kids where it has been shown constant overfeeding is the problem , one of these kids was 335 pounds, not only is it irresponsible on the parents part its abuse.
I think before the removals though there needs to be nutritional coaching/training. (including probably how to actually cook a talent that I know is disappearing in England based on the supermarkets I've been in - more pre-made food than fresh ingredients)
The UK Social services are actually quite good (I have a friend who works for them) I have no issues with Government intervention to protect children0 -
Perhaps we should implement a government enforced policy that anyone who supports taking someone's children away by force for any reason whatsoever should have their children taken away from them?
:huh:
Meh. I thought it was funny. :laugh:
This is how I feel every time people want to invoke force against others.0 -
Call me a jerk for my honesty but yes i definitely believe this to be true. Killing them slowly and ruining their future by introducing them to bad habits way too early.
Then maybe all the fat adults should go to jail. People with bad habits should be in cages, right?0 -
Knowing the system as I do I would say that once the child is being cared for by the state - obesity will be the least of their problems.0
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:flowerforyou:Not necessarily
But maybe some counseling for all
I never want to see kids taken from their families unless the situation can't be helped
This.
People do not realize how traumatizing removing a child from a loving parent can be for the child. The child doesn't see anything wrong with their relationship with their parents. To be taken away from someone that hugs you everyday, tucks you in at night, and tells you that you are the most special thing in the world can be utterly devastating for the child.
It's completely different when a child is beaten. The relationship is clearly damaged. But to take a child under any other circumstances is really harmful to the child's psyche.0 -
Call me a jerk for my honesty but yes i definitely believe this to be true. Killing them slowly and ruining their future by introducing them to bad habits way too early.
Then maybe all the fat adults should go to jail. People with bad habits should be in cages, right?
I think you're missing the point. These are not just kids who are overweight, and it's not about the parents teaching bad habits. These are morbidly obese kids, 11 and 10 year olds who are over 250lbs, some over 300lbs. The idea that you would rather these kids stay with the parents where they have a real risk of dying, than allow the government to interfere with the parents life is kind of extreme.0 -
They have a real risk of dying and many other things in foster care ...Call me a jerk for my honesty but yes i definitely believe this to be true. Killing them slowly and ruining their future by introducing them to bad habits way too early.
Then maybe all the fat adults should go to jail. People with bad habits should be in cages, right?
I think you're missing the point. These are not just kids who are overweight, and it's not about the parents teaching bad habits. These are morbidly obese kids, 11 and 10 year olds who are over 250lbs, some over 300lbs. The idea that you would rather these kids stay with the parents where they have a real risk of dying, than allow the government to interfere with the parents life is kind of extreme.0 -
I think that removing children from the home might be a bit over the top unless the children are at high risk because of what is going on. I think in the US they are making efforts already to teach people how to lead healthier lifestyles and hopefully that will continue. Now in college most majors require a certain amount of hours of nutrition classes or some type of sport (those classes are required and come out of the person's tuition so no need to worry about the tax payers paying for it). Children already have to take health and gym and it would be cool if more nutrition information could be incorporated into those existing programs.0
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They have a real risk of dying and many other things in foster care ...Call me a jerk for my honesty but yes i definitely believe this to be true. Killing them slowly and ruining their future by introducing them to bad habits way too early.
Then maybe all the fat adults should go to jail. People with bad habits should be in cages, right?
I think you're missing the point. These are not just kids who are overweight, and it's not about the parents teaching bad habits. These are morbidly obese kids, 11 and 10 year olds who are over 250lbs, some over 300lbs. The idea that you would rather these kids stay with the parents where they have a real risk of dying, than allow the government to interfere with the parents life is kind of extreme.
^^ Truth
And truth:Knowing the system as I do I would say that once the child is being cared for by the state - obesity will be the least of their problems.
"Exhibit A" from fairly recently.
http://www.alternet.org/drugs/taken-pot-smoking-parents-2-year-old-murdered-foster-care0 -
I think the issue of poverty is really what needs to be addressed first. Parents living below the poverty line often can't afford to purchase good quality food for their children or themselves. Some people will argue that if you do the proper research you can find healthy, cheap food but the fact of the matter is if you are raising 3 kids and working at least 1 full time job (perhaps more) you just don't have time for that.
Why'd they have kids if they couldn't afford to feed them?0 -
They have a real risk of dying and many other things in foster care ...Call me a jerk for my honesty but yes i definitely believe this to be true. Killing them slowly and ruining their future by introducing them to bad habits way too early.
Then maybe all the fat adults should go to jail. People with bad habits should be in cages, right?
I think you're missing the point. These are not just kids who are overweight, and it's not about the parents teaching bad habits. These are morbidly obese kids, 11 and 10 year olds who are over 250lbs, some over 300lbs. The idea that you would rather these kids stay with the parents where they have a real risk of dying, than allow the government to interfere with the parents life is kind of extreme.
Umm okay, I know of several foster carers who are decent people. Yes there are some unfortunate ones, but I truly believe that a child that is 324lb at the age of 11 is safer in foster care. To be that size so young, means certain early death. To be taken into foster care and taught how to be healthier, is a much better way.
Yes taking any child into care is and should be a last resort, but I'm fairly certain these parents will have been given every opportunity to change their ways. This is abuse, cruelty by ignorant parents who probably believe their children are "princes and princesses" who should be given everything they want and demand.
Education is great, but I don't believe it will help. If a parent has allowed their child to get to that size, they won't listen to reason and they will blame it on being poor. If you can afford that amount of unhealthy food to feed your child, I'm pretty sure you can afford a more normal amount of healthy food!0 -
I think the issue of poverty is really what needs to be addressed first. Parents living below the poverty line often can't afford to purchase good quality food for their children or themselves. Some people will argue that if you do the proper research you can find healthy, cheap food but the fact of the matter is if you are raising 3 kids and working at least 1 full time job (perhaps more) you just don't have time for that.
Why'd they have kids if they couldn't afford to feed them?
Sometimes poverty happens after kids are born.0 -
I think the issue of poverty is really what needs to be addressed first. Parents living below the poverty line often can't afford to purchase good quality food for their children or themselves. Some people will argue that if you do the proper research you can find healthy, cheap food but the fact of the matter is if you are raising 3 kids and working at least 1 full time job (perhaps more) you just don't have time for that.
Why'd they have kids if they couldn't afford to feed them?
Sometimes poverty happens after kids are born.
No kidding! The holier-than-thou attitude is getting old.0 -
Bypassing the article I say yes. They are putting their child's health at risk. I remember some stories a few years ago about morbidly obese children in the US being taken away from their parents and I thought it was a good idea. Let the parent take some nutrition classes while the foster home puts the kid on the right track.
Hey, and what if the caseworker is obese? What if the foster family is obese? What if the family law judge is obese?
They can be obese all they want, Im talking about morbidly obese kids that suffer from diabetes and sleep apnea and have to wear size 5x clothing from Rainbows.
Oh, so the kid gets told, it's ok for all these fat adults to rip them from their parents for being fat. Hypocrisy.
Its not about the adults, its about the kids. We need to help them so they do not end up like the adults.0 -
Umm okay, I know of several foster carers who are decent people.
No one said there weren't decent foster parents. But there are enough bad ones that it's a huge risk putting children into the system.
Some are simply uncaring and others are downright sadistic. If a kid is in a loving home where the only problem is the parents feed the kid too much, do you really think it's a good idea to take that risk?
I sure don't.0 -
Call me a jerk for my honesty but yes i definitely believe this to be true. Killing them slowly and ruining their future by introducing them to bad habits way too early.
Then maybe all the fat adults should go to jail. People with bad habits should be in cages, right?
I think you're missing the point. These are not just kids who are overweight, and it's not about the parents teaching bad habits. These are morbidly obese kids, 11 and 10 year olds who are over 250lbs, some over 300lbs. The idea that you would rather these kids stay with the parents where they have a real risk of dying, than allow the government to interfere with the parents life is kind of extreme.
There is a big difference between "risk of dying" and "immediate danger".0 -
Umm okay, I know of several foster carers who are decent people.
No one said there weren't decent foster parents. But there are enough bad ones that it's a huge risk putting children into the system.
Some are simply uncaring and others are downright sadistic. If a kid is in a loving home where the only problem is the parents feed the kid too much, do you really think it's a good idea to take that risk?
I sure don't.
Not to mention that the foster care system is overwhelmed. Many foster parents have 4, 5, or more foster children in their homes.0 -
I'd also like to add that I work in an agency that deals closely with DCF and several of my coworkers worked for DCF. I know the stats on foster care. It isn't pretty. And there are a number of foster families who take kids in not because they want to help them but because the money they get for caring for those kids is extra income. They may not actually harm the children, but they aren't making an effort to help them, either.Umm okay, I know of several foster carers who are decent people.
No one said there weren't decent foster parents. But there are enough bad ones that it's a huge risk putting children into the system.
Some are simply uncaring and others are downright sadistic. If a kid is in a loving home where the only problem is the parents feed the kid too much, do you really think it's a good idea to take that risk?
I sure don't.0 -
No. Removing children from their parents is extremely damaging to the children and should only be done in cases of dire abuse and/or neglect.0
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I think the issue of poverty is really what needs to be addressed first. Parents living below the poverty line often can't afford to purchase good quality food for their children or themselves. Some people will argue that if you do the proper research you can find healthy, cheap food but the fact of the matter is if you are raising 3 kids and working at least 1 full time job (perhaps more) you just don't have time for that.
Why'd they have kids if they couldn't afford to feed them?
Sometimes poverty happens after kids are born.
No kidding! The holier-than-thou attitude is getting old.
Yeah, I got nuthin'. :frown:
Wouldn't it be great to un-see and un-experience the stuff that makes you sympathetic to the plight of others?0 -
To me I personally think people need educating, not condemning....
There are numerous NHS weight reduction schemes going on in the UK, I'm on the Tier 3 program, which is based on re-education, but this sort of thing costs money and the NHS can't necasserily afford it in all regions (Derbyshire is very lucky in my opinion) but my point is, that this kind of service has worked for a life long over eater like me, so why can't something like this work for younger people & children....
NHS Derbyshire run the following:-
Tier 1: medication & diet advice from the G.P - no set duration
Tier 2: A group called Waist Wise (teaches you about basic nutrition and exercises) runs for 12 weeks
Tier 3: Access to a home visiting advisor/counsellor + Psychologist + Physiotherapist + Diettician - runs for up to 2 years
Tier 4: Pre-Surgical program, 12 weeks of diet advise and therapy like Tier 3, but you stand a good chance of bariatric surgery at the end of it
Sticking a child in foster care or a childrens home is likely to make their overeating issues even worse and they're more exposed to the possibilities of being bullied by people they share the foster home or childrens home with (there's nought so cruel as children, we all know this).
It's just not going to work taking a child away because it eats too much, you're punishing both parents and the child, not to mention any siblins the child may have.....0
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