Obese Third Grader Taken From Mom, Placed in Foster Care

““They are trying to make it seem like I am unfit, like I don’t love my child,”

Hopefully that is NOT what they are trying to convey. The removal of a child from the home because of obesity must be the ABSOLUTE last resort. In the case noted where the child was removed and then determined that it was a genetic pre-disposition is/was unacceptable. That should have been determined prior to any talk of removal. However, let’s face it! Given all the marketing, additives in our food and so on, some parents are not fully aware of how to feed their children properly. While this is an extreme case there are a large percentage of our children who are overweight and a lot of this outcome is not only in the home but in our schools too! Social workers (although the intent is good) should tred VERY, VERY carefully on this one and more parents need to become even more educated regarding the foods they feed their families.

I can almost understand something like this happening if it is a case of parental neglect (i.e., the parents are throwing food at the kid as a comfort mechanism, or to keep the child occupied). I actually know someone who’s 5 yr old son is morbidly obese because it’s easier for her to give him a bowl of Easy Mac in front of the television than it is to cook something nutritious and keep him occupied by other means than eating. However, that being said, there are many medical disorders that can cause children of even the most proactive parents to be severely overweight. I think for any case to be referred (and usually anonymously) to social services, there ought to be damned good grounds. Not just a quickie phone call from someone in the middle of the night. These agencies know, upon receiving these calls, whether or not they stink of revenge tactics against the parents. While a complaint like this is being taken and investigated, how many much more serious ones go unnoticed (i.e, a 3 yr old locked in his bedroom w/ the door nailed shut?)? Maybe the people making them are truly concerned, but c’mon. How many children die every year because people who witness abuse choose not to get involved? I think all CPS organizations across the country need to be overhauled completely.

I can’t believe people in the comments are framing the argument around the notion that this is an acceptable or condonable practice.

Make healthy food less expensive and more accessible in lower-income areas. Less gas stations and convenience stores disguised as grocery stores and placed in the middle of nowhere. Educate the parents on proper nutrition. Make this education more accessible to people who could benefit from it the most.

You are going to TRAUMATIZE THE CHILD by removing them from their parents. Broad, sweeping generalizations and rash assumptions like those expressed by our goose-stepping friends Dr. Ludwig and MyTakeOnThis61 should not lead to social policies. The increase in body size is a very complex topic, which has its roots in economic status as much as it does in biology and psychology, and by its very nature, has to be examined and treated more carefully. Instead, we panic, vilify fat people and in doing so, we’re JUST MAKING THINGS WORSE.

You’ve all seen people who joke about using fat people as fuel, right? Well, congrats. We’re taking fat kids away from their parents for being fat, which means we’re one step closer to making that a reality. You’re all excited about that, right?

The anti-size scaremongering has worked. We have dehumanized them- our mothers, fathers, aunts and uncles, siblings, friends, all are now without identities. They’re faceless photographs on articles about obesity, taken from the neck down. Your dehumanization is sickening.

I am sorry but Social Services should be worrying about the kids who have families who are beating them, sexually abusing them, neglecting them. Maybe they should focus on the cases they have in front of them instead of taking on a case where a child needs a diet or some medical tests to see what the REAL issue is.

Maybe if WIC and the Government actually gave food stamps and money for “REAL FOOD, HEALTHY FOOD” instead of processed food maybe soo many ADULTS and CHILDREN would not be obese. Maybe if this Mother was given the tools to help her son instead of telling her what she needed to do and than left her to foot the bill she could have done more.

Maybe if her Health Insurance wasn’t such a joke that child would receive more help. To put all the blame one 1 person is ridiculous. To make hurtful comments about “Fat People” is hateful and contributes to BULLYING and SUICIDE of young people.

People should really think before they type and place blame, each one carries enough of their own.

I don’t think this is as black and white as “fat phobia”. This child has a serious health issue – sleep apnea which can be fatal but also can effect his learning, his psychological well being, etc… From what is written, they didn’t just jump and grab this kid. They tried to work with the mother through a nutrition program. I would assume that they did testing to determine whether there was some genetic problem causing the obesity issue. I am sure the mother knew what the consequence (social service) was for not following through on the program…aside from the con her child’ health. Parents have a responsibility for their children’s health. To use the excuse of how much food costs, blah, blah, blah, is a cop out. Can you raise your child on fresh organic produce when you are on a budget….obviously not. But you can feed them things other than boxed macaroni and cheese and frozen crap. Canned fruit and vegetable are very reasonably priced. Are they equal to fresh? Obviously not but they are better than McDonalds or frozen pizza. It takes organization, work, and commitment to feed your family well but it can be done, regardless of the budget. This child is heading down a road to an early death if this continues. He is a child and needs to be protected. Anyone who thinks that feeding a child crap and not keeping them physically active is not abusing or neglecting their child has their head in the clouds. Children don’t need to have broken bones, bruises, etc…to be hurt. If this child loses weight in the foster care setting and regains some of his health then I have no problem with this. This isn’t about demonizing overweight people….this is about protecting the future health and well-being of a child.

This is not simply an issue of not eating enough fruits and vegetables. For a 9 year old to reach 200 pounds the volume of food being provided to him must be astounding. You don’t get this obese eating processed foods in the recommended servings (i.e. an entire box of Kraft macaroni and cheese is not one serving). You might not be particularly healthy, but you are not the weight of a full grown man. Kids cereals are now enriched so there is some whole grain in them but when you let kids eat two or three heaping bowls of cereal (when the serving size is 1 cup) with all the sugar and calories that entails, you end up with overweight children. If you give your child the 1 cup of cereal, a serving of canned peaches (in fruit juice, not syrup), and a serving of store brand yogurt you are giving your child a breakfast with appropriate calories, a good degree of nutrition, and teaching them to eat to live not live to eat. I am commenting as a single mother who cannot afford to shop at Whole Foods and buy high end organics. I am a mother who learned what my child NEEDED to eat to be healthy and did my best to provide it. Does my daughter eat junk food and drink soda…sure, but in moderation because she was taught that these things won’t give her energy or make her feel well. I’m lucky…I have a child who loves fruit, yogurt, and whole grain breads (the more crunchy things in the bread, the better). She loves these things because she was introduced to them. Even when I was dead tired on the weekends and wanted to be a couch potato, I took her to soccer, to skating, to the playground because she needed to be active to be healthy. Now she plays competitive soccer and exercises just because she loves the feeling it gives her. These are things we as parents have to teach our kids….we need to teach more than just their ABC’s. I understand that this is a lifestyle change for this mom…change is hard. But with her child’s life at stake, there is no excuse for not embracing the change and doing everything possible to save her child’s health. She was obviously incapable of doing that as the child’s weight gain proved. Do I think he should be in the foster system forever…? No, but something needed to be done to protect this child from lifelong health consequences and this was the only avenue available.

I dont know how this family is wealth wise but really if this mother is in the lower poverty, well unfortunately its quite common to see people with economic issues and weight issues. Why? Because good foods cost too much. Dont think so? A pack of hotdogs cost $0.88 and fries are $3-$4. Thats not much. Sure buying something healthy is not as costly but people need to be properly educated. This is wrong to take this child. They will do more harm to him in foster care.

And Congress just made pizza a vegetable. Do you see that as being part of the problem?

Taking children away for obesity is an incredibly stupid practice. It will backfire over time.

I was briefly placed in foster care after the death of my parents and it was one of the most painful episodes of my life. Foster care, even if placed with a kind family, is a traumatic experience.

I am now a therapist who spends most of her day working with people who are obese helping them work through the reasons why they eat. Usually, it is to fill a void or for various emotional reasons. The county just created another emotional reason for this child to eat.

Perhaps social workers should look at the needs of the child rather than trying to look like they are doing their job. They need to consider the needs of the child. Is there a need for psychological intervention? medical intervention? support for mom?

I fear they just made things worse for the child. That’s a shame.

This mother took her child to the doctor for help, and officials took the child becuase they didnt think the mother was doing enough to help the child. Ironic! The kid has sleep apnea which causes weight gain in most people due to lack of energy, and can lead to many more health issues. This women needs to sue the State and that social worker. Money talks , and it seems to be the only way
to get people to listen. How dare they break up a family over a health issues. Whats the state doing to insure children are getting enough excercise? How safe is it to let child out to play in ohio? Do they have places for children of all incomes, to get activity? Sue! Sue! Sue! The state has no business interferring in the parenting of children that are not being abused or negected!

Gotta love the myth that healthy food is more expensive. False. Some portion control, smarter shopping, and meal planning would go a long way with most people/families. Of course, that would take some discipline and no one wants that. Cost isn’t the issue. If it were, a lot less people would be smoking.

That “high-profile pediatric obesity expert” should be SHOT!!! TOO MUCH BIG BROTHER!!!

Can not comment cause I lived it and my comment would be derogatory
Lets just say they should mind their own business sometimes

What bullcrap! I have a younger brother who had cancer and other chronic health conditions as a child, and hes been BIG since 2nd grade. My parents and his TEAM of doctors(and I mean that litterally, had 6 docs at one point due to all the issues going on), tried EVERYTHING to get him to loose weight: diets, strict exersize plan, on and on and on, and guess what, the harder they TRIED TO GET HIM TO LOSE WEIGHT THE MORE HE GAINED. I remember being 9 or 10 years old, (he was 7 or 8 at the time) going to a Get fit kids program with him, not because I was overweight or anything but they thought that it would be good for me too. Guess what, I gained weight on the program too. The docs finally figured out that it was better to leave well enough alone, cause the harder they pushed the bigger he got. Hes 30 now, and still obese, but overall, his health, given his history and what hes been thru, couldnt be better.

It could be this child has an underlying, genetic condition that is the reason for his weight gain. But the state just steps in and yanks this child from his mother. The country is going to hell in a handbasket.

High fructose corn syrup in most processed foods causes metabolic syndrome. Weakened immune systems cause lack of energy. Pituitary and thyroid problems cause weight retention. Food allergies cause intestinal inflammation. Sleep apnea has been shown to be an factor in weight retention. Prater Williams syndrome is grossly underdiagnosed. Perhaps his doctors are not looking into the causation but a knee jerk reaction to the symptoms. Did they set the parents up with the tools a year ago to address the weight problems… nutritionist, etc?
Too bad our society awards anorexia and shuns those who are robust. Children in their growth years tend to pudge and grow especially between the ages of 8- 12. My son grew from 4’5″ to 6’5″ during those years.
It has been shown additionally that stress can cause weight retention….. why would you take a child away from his parents over obesity? With childhood obesity on the rise, if this is going to be standard practice, it certainly will max a foster care system that already has its problems.
Empowering parents with correct nutritional information and safe areas where children can play will certainly be better than taking a child away from his family.

Come on people please, I don’t think that woman was trying to hurt her kids. If that was so she wouldnt had taking him and to get checked. Listen we know it’s hard out here if you have a job or not, I believe when it come to obesity kids, and adults need to be getting check up , and the doctors should be about to write a letter to the state to help them with getting healthy foods to stop all this . They need to do it in a form of a coupon. They need to make sure that their not able to get anything but healthy foods and healthy snacks , drinks etc… all healthy and then their live a better life and thank you for states. People come on let push this our people are dying from not being able to get healthy food them and their kids. I pray the state would just get everyone thats getting some kinda help from them , maybe insurance, ssi, welfare, and make them go and get weighed in , and if their not at the weight they need to be, to please start giving them food coupon to buy healthy foods, and have them weigh them to keep a log-in on the weight lose every week, and wants they get to the weight they need to be , Then thank God we saved their lifes, amen!!!!!

poor baby, scared and alone and without his mom during whats suppose to be the most exciting holiday for these young kids. he is in my prayers

Thats pretty crazy I feel bad.

Nobody said it was the governments JOB to make healthy foods cheaper, but if there are going to be farm subsidies they should be for things that actually HELP people. Between 1995 and 2010 tobacco farmers were given 1.1 BILLION in subsidies while apple farmers in that same time period received less than $250,000. Of the top 20 subsidized crops in the years 1995-2010 NONE are vegetables, and just one is a fruit. That is just WRONG.

“You’ve all seen people who joke about using fat people as fuel, right?”
Posted by: M. Seegz

No, but that sounds like a great idea! Must be a lot of fuel in the blubber. But wait, aren’t fat people carbon sinks? They must be holding a lot of carbon out of the system by being that huge. Fat people fight global warming! Save the whales!!

I’m glad this happened and it needs to happen more often. Making a child of that age get that fat is child abuse. Yes, making, not letting, because I highly doubt he was going to the store with his own money and buying his own food without his mother’s knowledge. L S said “children in their growth years tend to pudge.” OK, but a 200+ pound third grader is not “pudge,” it’s morbid obesity. You don’t grow out of that. And guess what, sleep apnea is more often caused by obesity than obesity resulting from sleep apnea.

Some people simply should not be allowed to reproduce. Unfortunately, there is no socially acceptable way to prevent stupid people from breeding so our society is doomed.

first tshy take kids away because of their names now weight where does it end

A lot of post have been placed, some harsh, and some compassionate. In the end if you’re not part of the solution then you’re part of the problem. It’s real nice to debate, and to tell us what you think, but if you feel so passionatly about a topic, “Do something about it”. If you care so much instead of putting in your opinions, put a plan into action. If you really don’t care, as harsh as it may seem, “you need to shut up”. What if it is genetic? How do you guys think this kids mom would feel after reading these post? Pratically suicidal, as if she isn’t already tramautized that her child has been taken from her custody. Until you know the whole story you all shoudl really keep your opinions, especially negative ones, ” TO YOURSELVES”.

If obesity in an 8 yr old is caused by the times he/she doesn’t eat at home then every child would be 135lbs overweight. I can understand a few pounds but once your child was 20, 30, 50 or 100 lbs overweight wouldn’t you do something about it? This has clearly gone too far as has the obesity epidemic in this country. We need to stop it not blame it on others.

i have never been through any of these tramatic experiences myself but being an obese teenager in a lower-class family i know that it isn’t easy especially on a small budget but my mom manages to buy fresh fruits and veges-but there were times were it was white or wheat, i have been heavier since i was about 12and now that i’m 13 it is much harder to loose weight, my mother took me to my check u0ps and whenever i was sick,but up until about 2 months ago non of my docters said aword about my weight, even when my mom and me asked, i have been goingto this docter for my whole life and it took a fill in docter to confront me about my weight, if i had been put on a strict made for me diet i wouldn’t be 256 pounds and that has nothing to do with my mom and what she fed me my mom has always done her best to provide us with healthy food, but sometimes it can’t be helped. i have some medical condition thing that makes me crave sweets, i have had this since i was about 6 so it has nothing to with if my mom loves me or not but about how sometimes there are things that even a parent can do that can help with certain things

Has anyone stopped to think that maybe this child has an eating disorder or maybe even a thyroid condition? Why is a parent having their child ripped from their arms because their over weight? You can not always go by how much a child weighs. You have to look at their size to judge if you think that they are over weight. You can stand two children side by side that weigh the same amount but they are two totally different sizes. Their needs to be more to this and you can not just take a child from their parents because they are over weight. I mean come on that’s like me saying I’m going to come and take their kid because I don’t like the way they let them dress. Help this mother do not punish the mother.

I cant imagine whats going through the mothers head right now. I myself has battle weight since i was 5 and I grew up with people calling me names and such so for the ones who are leaving the cruel heartless messages maybe you should get your head out of the clouds and think about what your saying because to me its just like being bullied. My son is perfectly fit and eats like a horse and not all of what he eats is healthly. what im trying to say is maybe theres much more of a problem they cant find. when i was 19 i went in for heart failure and 2 months later i was in surgey for a gastic bypass to help maintan my weight . I wasnt a heavy eater and i ate decent portins most times. Most my family is big on my moms side. also im a member of a gym and workout as much as i can. its like i can take it off but gain it back till my gastric surgery came along. I do hope the best for the family and praying for some kind of closure and help that the boy needs to get him healthy.

We live in a scary country. Do other countries do this? The parents needed help, but the state SHOULD NOT have this kind of power to steal kids and put them with strangers. At best this will be traumatic for this child. And you never know what will happen in foster care. Can you imagine strangers having the right to make decisions regarding your child? Can you imagine not even being allowed to see or talk to your child except when the court allows it? This is SO WRONG! How do we reign in the power that has been given to “Child Protective Services?”

It’s called WIC.. Free personalized nutrition information & help, & ESP in low income areas it very well known. It’s in paperwork home from schools, it’s now ALL over news an advertising.. HEALTHY eating practices is NO SECRET or excuse. There IS education on this subject EVERYWHERE!! It’s you people,coming up with the excuse that obese people are fat because nobody told them what’s healthy & what’s not, that are giving them reason to keep excusing this self negligent behavior! P p p please!!

Rob dent….as far as telling policemen “lose weight or lose your job”, that is exactly what the government tells our military. Even when the weight issue was known prior to the personenlisting. There are weight standards in place for the “safety and performance” of the troop and are strictly followed.
As far as food costs healthy vs fattening. Yes, there is a probelm. Coming from being able to access food at a cheaper rate when in the military to having comparable income but more bills and no longer have access to the military grocery store,where the produce and lean meats were astoundingly cheap to civilian stores….it is MUCH more expensive to stock up on these items.
And for all of those nay sayers about food prices…..eat a dollars worth of carrots or any other veggie, then eat a dollar cheeseburger from any chain….which is more filling? If you had a hungery family of 4 or 5 and $15 to feed everyone, do you let them go to sleep crying and still hungery with a good feeling cause you fed them the healthy choice or do you fill their bellies and hope to be able to do better by them next time?