Can childhood obesity be considered a form of child abuse?
By veromar
@veromar (1453)
Argentina
August 26, 2010 5:29pm CST
Obesity is becoming a worldwide phenomenon, without a doubt. But is arresting parents because their children are obese the right way to deal with it? In most cases, there are many more factors involved. Case in point:
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/obese-children-parents-abusive/story?id=11446364&page=1
Two extremely obese Georgia children who were removed from their home last week have some people saying their weight is a form of child abuse, but experts disagree.
ABC News reports that James and Anne Cardona of Marietta, Ga., were arrested and charged with felony child abuse after their two daughters, ages 5 and 4, were removed from their home.
Not only were their living conditions squalid, but the two girls are dangerously obese. The 5-year-old weighs 158 pounds and has trouble walking, the news station reports. The 4-year-old weighs 89 pounds -- a typical child that age should weigh about 40 pounds, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
However, experts say having an overweight child isn't child abuse, in and of itself. "Obesity is usually part of a much bigger problem. In a child protective services capacity, it would be seen as medical neglect, and that's just part of the whole picture," Linda Spears, vice president of policy and public affairs at the Child Welfare League of America, tells ABC. "The question is what's going on with the family that's causing the situation in which you have an obese child with health consequences that are not being addressed."
She adds that as the national "epidemic" of childhood obesity continues to grow, social services departments are likely to see more and more obese kids when investigating child abuse claims.
"There's a good likelihood that you will see a larger percentage of these cases becoming part of the child welfare caseload," Spears tells ABC.
What can we do as a society to prevent this kind of thing? When I was younger, we were schooled in the 4 basic food groups and how much of each should be eaten daily. However, in a lot of instances these days, getting fresh fruits and vegetables is much more expensive than getting a combo meal from a fast food joint. Poverty, joblessness and just the daily struggle to pay the bills seems to be taking it's toll much faster and even faster on the next generation. What can we do?
5 responses
@sid556 (30960)
• United States
27 Aug 10
Great topic, Veromar! Is it abuse? In some cases it may be a sign of abuse but so many times I see cases where it is just plain ignorance on the part of the parents. By ignorance I mean lack of knowledge. And in other cases, as you pointed out, it could be lack of finances or a combination of factors. Once a child is overweight and has established bad eating habits, it is really hard to turn it around. Some kids, I think are more prone to being overweight than others so maybe genetics also play a role in this. When I was a kid, I could eat anything and everything and not gain an ounce. I had a very high metabolism. Other kids need only to look at fast food and chips etc and they blow up like a balloon. There is this kid that comes in the store where I work. Now his mother is very tiny and so are his two older brothers. Then along comes John. By age 5 he weighed almost as much as his 12 yr old brother only he did not have the heighth. This mom really had no clue as to how to put her son on a diet when the rest of the family was able to eat everything without gaining. The kid is now 17 and so overweight it isn't funny. At some point you have to wonder why did his pediatrician never step in? He wasn't abused. He comes from a good and clean home. He visited the doctors regularly.
@sid556 (30960)
• United States
28 Aug 10
Stephbond,
I know what you are saying. There are some that fall into the category that you describe for sure but not all. Like Veromar said, there are way too many variables and situations to put them all into one category like that. And lets not forget the parents that do it all with the healthy diet etc and then the kids go and buy mountain dews and energy drinks and eat the junk on their own. I know that I almost NEVER bought soda. I took one of my daughters in for a dental check up to find she had 6 cavities. I was shocked! The dentist said that it appeared she had been drinking too many soft drinks. My daughter admitted to buying them when she was out with friends. And regardless of all this, you really can't rule out the metabolism factor.
@veromar (1453)
• Argentina
27 Aug 10
You're so right, Sid! Metabolism plays a huge part! I'm just like the kid that you describe. My entire family is thin and can basically eat anything they want. Me....I was born "chubby" and remain so to this day. I exercise regularly, eat nutritiously and yet have a hard time maintaining an "acceptable" weight. My mom always served me the same as everyone else ate and it was a well balanced meal. A good mix of meat, vegetables, starches and fruit. It just didn't work for me! lol. I was never abused. I simply have a hard time controlling my weight. However, unlike the kids mentioned in the Marietta story, I lived in a "healthy" environment. Our clothes were always clean. The house was clean. Even though we were "poor", everything was always neat and tidy. It still didn't do anything to help my weight condition! lol.
Stephbond.....I agree wholeheartedly with what you say about a homemade meal and the benefits of it! The sad thing is that, in today's world, everything is in a hurry. Everything. I can't say that I agree with you about the "laziness" factor though. It may be the reason in some families but a lot of parents these days are simply too overworked bringing in the money necessary just to pay the bills. Let's say it's the Mom that has the cooking responsibility. After she's worked a 10 hour day, tended to household responsibilities, helped the kids with homework, etc. and then has to cook. There are so many variables and possibilities and there just isn't a "norm" these days. Every family is different. From their daily work lives to their home existence. We can't responsibly lump them all into the same categories. And while your Mom may opt to buy you an apple in place of a candy bar, other mom's may not based on their own set of circumstances. Laziness? Convenience? Who knows.
@stephbond89 (359)
•
27 Aug 10
i dont agree with the point of poverty Im afraid...whats cheaper....a bag of apples (around £1 for 6 apples) or a bag of chocolates (around £2 for a pack of 5 chocolate bars). A McDonalds meal which even for a child is £2, or a family meal of Spaghetti Bolognase, home made, which is around £5 for a family of 4?
Yes, "health foods" like tofu, specialist childrens healthy foods are expensive, but a good home made meal is cheaper than ready meals or eating out. A piece of fruit is normall around 20p (an apple, orange or banana for example), whilst a bar of chocolate is 50p at the least in the average shop.
Its simple laziness sadly, laziness in the case of convenience foods are quicker than home made meals, and laziness in percevering with getting the kids to eat healthy alternatives.
I am "poor", ok not poor, but we're on a low income, and we manage healthy home made meals every day, sometimes we'll indulge in a meal out or fast food, but no morew than once a month- and if i took my child to somehwere like McDonalds Id chose the healthy option for them (carrot sticks instead of fries, water or juice instead of pop).
Its not always about money...poor people arent thick, its just that some people (rich or not) are very lazy!!!
@hardworkinggurl (37063)
• United States
26 Aug 10
I believe it is more of a form of child neglect as opposed to abuse. Perhaps the quick 99 cents menu item is quicker and faster, but then how about the endless medical bills.
Realistically with a bit more planning buy the fresh fruits and vegetables can last more than one sitting and naturally better health. Although it is difficult after training the child to prefer the fatty foods it would be difficult to re-train the taste buds.
As adults we face many challenges when it comes to our own health and fitness, why on earth would we not try to the fullest with our children. Priorities I suppose.
@veromar (1453)
• Argentina
26 Aug 10
I don't know if I'd agree that it's a matter of "priorities". I'm sure that economics plays some role. I think you're also making the assumption that the adults, or parents in this instance, actually make attempts at fitness to maintain proper health. One has to wonder. Parenting falls under a very wide umbrella. I've seen kids throw "fits" while out in public because they couldn't have a piece of candy they wanted or their parents wouldn't buy them a certain package of cookies. Things like that. Just saying no and dealing with temper tantrums in public, I'm sure, aids in improper eating habits these days. I agree with your statement about properly planning for the use of fruits and vegetables. Getting kids to eat a healthy diet is a matter of education. It just seems that THAT is what's lacking in the general populace when it comes to nutrition. Kids really don't know any better.
@hardworkinggurl (37063)
• United States
26 Aug 10
I suppose I was not clear when I said priorities. As educating is a priority to me.
@daliaj (5674)
• India
26 Aug 10
I don't think childhood obesity can be considered as a form of childhood abuse by parents. Heriditary issues matters. I always see the children of fat parents are often fat. It has something to do with genes. But, parents should make sure that their children are not fat. There are parents in my place who force the children to eat a lot of food because they think children need a lot of vitamins, minerals, and proteins to grow up.
@daliaj (5674)
• India
30 Aug 10
Some people hate some type of food and they hate it from childhood. For example, my husband hates coconut and he hesitated to have coconut even from when he was a kid. Normally, I see parents don't give enough importance to the preference or taste of the kid. They force them to eat whatever the parents think good for the health of the child.
@veromar (1453)
• Argentina
27 Aug 10
Yes, Daliaj, I agree that heredity can play a part in childhood obesity. However, it can be controlled through a proper diet and exercise regime. If it is an issue of hereditary nature and the parents themselves are "fat", how can they make sure their children are not fat? Forcing children to eat would come into play if the kids were UNDER nourished, right? Unless they're being force-fed vegetables and fruits. Hmmm.....
@smilepleeeaz (784)
• India
27 Aug 10
Well yes , according to me , it is a kind of child abuse, or even worst than it.
And the person who should held responsible for it is their Parents for sure.
Children cant make out whats good for their health and whats not, but parents can.
So if they still not stop them from eating such stuffs that contains high calories and fat values than in a way they are making their own children obese.
Also some parents gets busy enough to cook proper food for their children and so the children have to depend on the fast food which can be a reason for obesity.
And childhood obesity is really unfortunate. The children who become victim of it have to suffer a lot and their childhood fun gets ruined.
So what can be worse than it? It is a kind of abuse in itself according to me.
Thanks for this discussion.
Take care :)
@veromar (1453)
• Argentina
27 Aug 10
But what if the parents themselves don't know any better? What if they actually think they're giving their kids what they need? However, exactly like you say.....some parents are too busy to cook proper food for their children and have to depend on fast food. Parents are having to work longer hours, and in some cases, more than one job just to pay the bills. It leaves little time to properly plan and execute nutritious meals. In the end, something has to suffer and it's a shame that the trend seems to be that it is the health of children. Thanks for participating!
@oldchem1 (8132)
•
28 Aug 10
I think people have to be very careful before they start blaming parents and lifestyles on children's weights.
I have enclosed a photograph of three of my grandchildren.
These are brothher and sisters and have been brought up to eat healthy food, plenty of fruit and vegetables etc, two of them are perfec weight (in fact 6 year old Alice is perhaps a little skinny!) however the youngest - four year old Amy is a real little chubster - but is fed just the same as her siblings.
They are staying with me at the moment and when we have eaten out she has chosen meals like pasta rather than chips, they haveonly water, fruit juices or sugar free drinks.
Amy's mother has difficulity in getting clothes to fit her and she is very worried about Amy starting school in September as she is sure to get a letter warning od amy's 'obesity', she even risks having the children taken of her because of it.
Amy is perfectly fit, she gets loads of excercise - she is running round all day ar in the pool.
So please don't ALWAYS think that it is the parent's falt because it isn't!!
