Should obese children be taken away from parents?

willow01 said on July 18, 2011 at 3:48 PM

Are you joking! Take kids out of there home.............the people who suggest this are sick!

dinozzo said on July 18, 2011 at 8:37 AM

Are people getting dumber, or just more nasty?

1beachperson said on July 18, 2011 at 8:12 AM

Don't let food stamps be used for candy, chips, pop, etc. Food stamps should only be good for fresh fruit, vegies, modest meats, milk. If I have to eat tube steaks or chicken, I don't get why those on food stamps get real steaks! Teach the parents and kids how to cook. I'll cook a chicken then use the leftovers for chicken salad, soup, etc. Goes a lot farther and is much healthier - oh, and I walk to the grocery store!

quenz said on July 17, 2011 at 11:07 AM

There is another way through this situation. Not as thrilling to discuss as whether or not to remove children from their families. Some states fund alternative response: helping families stay together while keeping kids safe by intensive home visiting services focused on helping the family change the risky behavior. I'm a public health nurse doing this work in my community. I've seen many families do well with this support, some families are not able to make change and need the children removed. Except for the worst cases, children do better staying in their own family. Unfortunately the budget for alternative services has been repeatedly cut.

hologram5 said on July 17, 2011 at 9:18 AM

wikblom said on July 15, 2011 at 12:26 AMYes, all fat kids should be taken away from their parents. Also, people who home school the kids should lose custody.\------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Come try it toolshed. Bring a body bag or two.

hologram5 said on July 17, 2011 at 9:16 AM

Idiots. Like our state foster system can do any better. Who's going to pay for this morons? YOU?! NO NEW TAXES...

Statik2083 said on July 16, 2011 at 11:34 AM

More news hype and scare tactics... 1) there are many issues that can cause weight gain, including medication, gland conditions etc. 2) there are many conditions that make exercise more difficult, for example Bone or joint conditions. 3) Weight conditions in children (or humans in general) cannot be standardized as such putting legal restrictions is impracticle. Fact of the matter is, most cheap food is unhealthy, most convenient food is unhealthy... and even healthy food, if prepared incorrectly or not properly balanced in the right diet is... You guessed it, Unhealthy. So, unless the same government that refuses to socialize healthcare is going to socialize not only Healthcare, but Food supply and provide free healthy activity facilities for Everyone at convenient locations -- This isn't going to happen. Foster care already has major issues, putting anyone in there that doesn't have anywhere else to go is WRONG. If this doc is so worried, maybe he should adopt or pay 4 help

goldiemae said on July 15, 2011 at 5:49 PM

I've actually read the article that generated this 'story'...as usual, the media is making up boogey-men where none really exist. The doc who wrote the article actually stated that it is not practical nor advisable in nearly all cases and might only be in the most severe cases...such as ones where the child is in imminent danger from health problems caused by a BMI that puts them in the 99th percentile and when those health problems are not being addressed by the parents. I wonder what most of you would be saying if instead they were talking about some other health risk that parents were not addressing that put their kids in danger of death. The full text is here: jama.ama-assn.org/content/306/2/206.full

ellemarie said on July 15, 2011 at 12:46 PM

The cost of food IS a valid issue. Fresh fruits & veg's, meat & fish, dairy & whole grains cost a LOT more than they used to & are not affordable for many. And who is fueling the fast food/junk food movement? OUR government, that's who. Maybe more people should watch Food Inc & other documentaries & reports about the food monopoly in this country & who is behind it. Just like the gov telling us not to smoke & yet they subsidize the tobacco growers. They "say" they want you to quit smoking but they don't. Too many fat wallets might grow a bit slimmer. Same with our food in this country. Our gov says one thing & totally does another. It's time to take a stand in this country & tell the gov to get out of our lives, esp. when they pull this utter nonsense. We are getting squeezed tighter & tighter by gov officials & others who think THEY know what's best for people & their families.

bigblue1518 said on July 15, 2011 at 11:27 AM

Jakfb, I love to banter with tards so I'll keep this going for another round. I didn't realize using the English language correctly classified me as a "Nerd" oh well I guess you nailed it then. Now go back down into your parents basement, oh I mean your apartment, and keep reading that "Hooked on Phonics" book they gave you. Bahahahaha DA.

pnwfemale said on July 15, 2011 at 10:19 AM

Years ago, I used to be able to buy fresh corn on the cob 12 ears for $1.00. Now, it is about 2 ears, maybe 3 for the same amount of money. Most of the fresh produce at the supermarkets is priced right out of my budget. The Farmers Market isn't much better. One time, I asked a local farmer how he determines what price to charge for his produce. He told me that he checks the prices that the grocery stores are charging, then adds a couple of dollars. I think low income people should have the same healthy food choices as those who are in the middle income and higher groups. I'd love to buy fresh produce more often. If the stores would roll back the prices on fresh produce, it might help.

scott_bellevue said on July 15, 2011 at 8:08 AM

CPS has already lost lawsuits for taking away kids from their parents for other reasons. Their methods are unconstitutional to the n'th degree. They should be dismantled entirely. They don't observe due process and take kids away from parents on rumors and hearsay. Nothing could be more unamerican.

scott_bellevue said on July 15, 2011 at 8:05 AM

The nanny state should not be taking kids from their parents. No. Period.

wikblom said on July 15, 2011 at 12:26 AM

Yes, all fat kids should be taken away from their parents. Also, people who home school the kids should lose custody.

wmdkitty said on July 14, 2011 at 10:06 PM

No. Wrong. Bad. And Bloody Ridiculous. The best way to tackle obesity is to make healthy foods more affordable, and to educate, educate, educate. Educate parents. Educate children. Offer healthy foods in school lunches. But don't go tearing a family apart because the kids are fat. All that will do is tear families apart and take time and resources away from helping the children who /are/ being abused.

jakfb said on July 14, 2011 at 9:46 PM

@bigblue1518 Wow thanks for showing me what a nerd you are bahahahaha

harapekochie2002 said on July 14, 2011 at 9:39 PM

So obese kids are taken away from the parents then skinny kids could be taken away from the parents? We don't enough money to feed the healhy food to our children all the time but we are not doing anything wrong. Sure our kids could be a little havier than other kids but we aren't bad parents.

ratpack7 said on July 14, 2011 at 8:30 PM

Seriously??? Miss Mandy, are you saying you NEVER eat at McDonald's with your children? Or better yet, do you never let them eat "hot lunch" at school? Because as we all know school meals are some of the least nutricious meals provided. Yet, these are the meals that DSHS provides to needy families and children in foster care for free. I would like to know how many children in foster care are obese!!! If this is where you plan to place the obese children you remove from their LOVING families you better be able to prove there are NO obese children in foster care now. Can you show me perfectly healthy children (physically and mentally) in our foster care system? Not to mention our foster care system is already over crowded. In my home I have 7, yes 7, children. I feed them all the same food, 2 are considered obese. I don't love them less, don't treat them different, and yet by your standards I abuse them... really? BTW these are children I saved from the foster care system!!!

krgibbons said on July 14, 2011 at 6:59 PM

I am 14 years old and obese and it has nothing to do with my parents. In fact, my whole life my parents have been stressing to me the importance of eating right and exercising. I am the one to blame for me being obese, not my parents. I hate exercise with a passion, and genetically I am not one of those kids with an amazing metabolism who can eat anything, not exercise and stay thin. I realize this, and yet I have not been able to mentally convince myself that I need to exercise a lot and actually follow through. It is not my parents fault, and for a lot of kids it isn’t their parents fault either. I was even in a FOCUS group for overweight kids and their parents, and that didn’t help me at all. For me and a lot of kids, but not all, it is all mental and has nothing to do with our parents, but until we get over that mental block, whether with help or without help, things are not going to change.

ginas said on July 14, 2011 at 5:52 PM

and just out of curiosity, is it on the books anywhere state or federal that being overweight or even obese is illegal? seriously, this is one of the most stupid things i've ever read in the news.

Docky said on July 14, 2011 at 3:34 PM

Our son is ADHD, and part of his condition is over eating. By time we noticed he was eating that much, he was already overweight. There's a lot of situations in life that don't require a stiff penalty to solve, and think this is one of them. The world's not getting any better!

ellemarie said on July 14, 2011 at 2:41 PM

This is the most outrageous thing I've heard in a long time. CPS will put kids BACK with druggie parents & let them be abused over & over, but they want to take overweight kids away from their parents??? This world is going insane! And I'm sorry, but it seems like bashing overweight or obese people is the new ACCEPTED norm. Heaven forbid if we ask a terrorist for ID, but it's okay to bash overweight people. This country is SICK!

TruthBtold said on July 14, 2011 at 1:44 PM

Who put Mandy LaFontaine in charge of all our children?

ttylboy said on July 14, 2011 at 11:23 AM

Wow this sounds like a slightly good idea run amuck! I can see it now. Pass the law and every family who has a kid 2 lbs over the weight limit will be in court. How ridiculous can this be. Just because a kid is over weight or obese does not mean the family they are with does not care about them or take care of them in a healthy way. To stand up and just say all obese kids should be taken away is just as scandalous and mindless as saying all women with short hair are lesbians. I mean this is outright discrimination. Now if after some evaluation and counseling on the families part a child is found to be in danger or health or dying because the parents are truly neglecting then I can see something taking place. But we should already have a system in place to do this. Doesn't mean it works as DSHS never seems to have enough time, people, or money to do their job right. So instead of creating a new law which is stupid all by itself lets make the system we have more resourceful.

bigblue1518 said on July 14, 2011 at 11:14 AM

Wow, jakfb interesting comment. First off, if you are going to take a shot at someone on this site learn how to spell, or at least pay attention to the little red lines under half the words you attempt to type. Secondly, there are things such as sentence structure and punctuation, look them up. Oh also you really shouldn't ask a question and make a direct statement in the same sentence. I would love to banter with you over how wrong your assessment of me and your ideas are however; I'm having a hard time even following your comment. Sorry, but if you wanted to make a point you will have to try again.

malacopeland said on July 14, 2011 at 10:50 AM

How about educating the parents instead? It's not fair to the parents or the kids to just take them away. The majority of American society is fat. Taking kids away from their parents because of their weight is a ridiculous proposal.

dawgswin said on July 14, 2011 at 10:37 AM

How many people can actually afford to eat healthy? How do you know what IS really healthy for you? I heard on KOMO radio last night that for some reason EGGS are now good for you again. Last I heard they always have been good for you. People react to foods in different ways. What may be healthy for one person may kill the next.

angelainbothell said on July 14, 2011 at 10:35 AM

How about we take children away from overbearing, overcontrolling parents who think they know more than other parents? Mandy would surely agree with this, and wouldn't mind at all if her children were taken away and put with strangers, who might sexually abuse them. Surely she wouldn't mind if her children suffered damage to their ability to form attachments, because the State knows best after all. Oh...she wouldn't like that? Because she's a good parent with perfect children? I'm sorry. She doesn't kinow what's best for her own children. We'll have to take them away and "fix" them for her. If she ever gets them back, she'll have to remember to be grateful to have been considered worthy by the all-knowing State.

lovemondays said on July 14, 2011 at 10:32 AM

should obese nurses and doctors be taking care of us? what constitutes obese....have you seen the "take better care of yourself" commercials with Mrs. President???? should obese teachers and aides be removed from our schools so the kids don't have to look at them all day??? this is a joke question right?

eengelhart984914 said on July 14, 2011 at 10:26 AM

(PART 1) Mandy is a complete and total dumba** for making such idiotic statements! How much is too much Mandy? Your statements sound as if EVERY child that is above their average weight percentage for their age groups should be taken away from loving homes! There is a lot more that goes into a person’s weight than just flat out being lazy or eating fast food for convenience. Everyone is different! Every Child is different! Maybe she should look into the percentages of obesities rate of people in the Untied States. That in itself is a shocker! And it is not all because of fast food! It has a lot to do with how and what they cook at home! I have seen some overboard cases where children are way over weight, meaning 3 years old 80 pounds. In cases like those the a parents are shoving 3 or hamburgers or what ever the child throws a fit for, down a kids throat for 3 to 5 meals a day. Those very few families need help, programs something that will help them deal with a child (Cont....)

rite2post said on July 14, 2011 at 10:00 AM

Leave those kids alone. Our economy and infrastructure will be able to take in 60% of the children out there. If those kids are loved at home, that is where they belong. Foster care has their own problems and issues too.

musicfreak said on July 14, 2011 at 9:01 AM

Utterly ridiculous. That Mandy is on her high horse and should jump off of it now.

bigblue1518 said on July 14, 2011 at 8:49 AM

The government should simply fine the pathetic parents of fat children. Most fat children are the direct result of lazy and fat parents. I'm sure someone will chime in with "it a gland issue' but in the end the blame is 99% on the parent. Unfortunately the child is suffering now and will continue to suffer as a result of their parents neglect and ignorance. Fine them and fine them often until they learn to take care of their kids.

3porte8742496002 said on July 14, 2011 at 8:20 AM

Wow, that kid as a serious case of "Dunlop" disease. You know, where her belly Dun Lop over her belt.

reasonable said on July 14, 2011 at 8:10 AM

Don't you think that separating a child from their parent will cost the state a lot of money? PLUS it will probably only traumatize the child further, driving him or her to eat more because that is the coping mechanism that they have most likely already developed. Futhermore, wouldn't we rather work with the entire family to teach them how to live healthier so that they can in turn teach others? And lastly - what about parents who raise children who smoke? Should we take them away? How about parents with kids with low grades? Do we take them away, too? And think of the parents who are hoarders - that can't be healthy. Are we going to just start large group homes for all of these children that we've stripped out of homes just because we can? The foster care system is already overrun with too many children.. what a waste of government funding to even bother debating this topic. Mandy LaFontaine needs her brain examined if she thinks this is the logical step.

aziza said on July 14, 2011 at 7:25 AM

Absurd.

arcticfireguy said on July 14, 2011 at 6:52 AM

The things that idiots propose never cease to amaze me... If the government ever, ever tried to take my kids or grand kids it would be a very bad day for the person who made the attempt. The government is out of control. It is way past time to reign them in.

stryker said on July 14, 2011 at 6:19 AM

Absolutley STUPID idea. Place them with people that... well you read the headlines about what happens to foster kids. And who is going to manage this? DSHS??? Great, more kids will be abused and killed. I hope all the experts that think this is a good idea are first in line to foster a kid instead of running their big mouths.

MistofRain752 said on July 14, 2011 at 1:43 AM

Maybe they should go after the schools first with their breakfast and lunch programs. I have actually gagged seeing what children eat in schools today. Pizza, cheeseburgers made with plastic cheese and nugget surprise! Top it off with chocolate drink (yes read the ingreds) and plastic ice cream. Real healthy for our children's lunch. How many schools have taken away PE classes 3X a week? Playground activities, jump rope, kick ball....This really ticks me off! Yes, the parents are at fault too! All the quick fix plastic food in a box. A good healthy meal is really not that hard or expensive too make. And certainly doesn't take that long to cook. I know a dozen off the top of my head that take 5mins. prep and ready in a hr.

Rigid_Principle said on July 14, 2011 at 12:25 AM

Does whoever wrote this article have a clue ? RECORD SETTING gun and ammo sales the past few years! Given the recent events in Tuscon, it's amazing politicians anywhere in this free country would even ponder such a law.

cjcampbell said on July 13, 2011 at 11:36 PM

I am shocked that anything of the kind would even be considered. Perhaps these people would prefer that all children be raised by trained professionals from the moment that they are decanted, a la "Brave New World." What next? "Mother" will become a dirty word?

underserf said on July 13, 2011 at 11:17 PM

Wow - first druggie parents, then parents who feed their kids too much. Soon enuff, we'll be taking kids away from parents if the kids look "goth" Maybe soon we can begin taking children away from religious fanatics that demand children work and Republicans who think "hunger is a great motivator"

haylee said on July 13, 2011 at 10:57 PM

When will they stop looking for things to monitor us about. Why don't they try monitoring their spend.

hippiescum said on July 13, 2011 at 10:17 PM

The state has no right to ever, ever, ever tell you what to do concerning your body - PERIOD end of story. Get out of our lives!!!!!!!!!!!

hippiescum said on July 13, 2011 at 10:02 PM

@tangpo Beautifully crafted comment. Yeah, why don't we put politicians that don't do what we elected them to do in some kind of a facility for wayward stupid lying politicians. Take them away from their constituents because they are too "abnormal" to function in society. Take their salaries away from them too. Maybe they are too skinny too think properly. The prison industry is a burgeoning industry. There should be a lot of room for all of us that are not normal, according to a few government agencies.

attendancelady said on July 13, 2011 at 9:28 PM

Obviously, the AMA hasn't a clue how the real world works. Foster Care cannot keep up with the children they have to care for now! What about fat adults? What is AMA going to do about them? Is everyone in the AMA fit and trim? I truly doubt that!

collegeguy said on July 13, 2011 at 9:25 PM

King5, wow, looking at those twitter followers, the majority are completely out of touch with reality. We are already in a budget crisis and this would just add more pressure on everyone to have to pay for this because it will not be paid for by the parents.

collegeguy said on July 13, 2011 at 9:22 PM

Anyone who supports taking a child away from their parents just because they are obese are incredibly ignorant and are forgetting what this country is about. If you think it is ok, then you can go live in China or some other country that allows this kind of behavior. You are sick people for even suggesting this. Many kids tend to be overweight for a while and then lose it as they get older, some don't ever lose it. It is not some government workers right to take a child away because of weight.

matthias said on July 13, 2011 at 9:18 PM

Someone brought up the quality and nutrition of school lunch. At my kids school once a week they have pizza hut pizza in addition to the slop they serve on a regular basis. Additionally, there used to be something called Physical Education. In the class kids used to actually get the exercise they need. Now many schools do not allow kids to move any faster than they can shuffle their feet. Forget anything that involves actual movement. PE and recess both have lost their value as far as the physical conditioning aspect is concerned. But Yes, blame it on the parents.

brewster said on July 13, 2011 at 9:18 PM

Just can't believe this stories!

cmcinnis said on July 13, 2011 at 9:14 PM

Maybe children should be taken away from parents who let them eat candy? Maybe if they let them eat at McDonalds? What about those parents who let their children stay up past 10:00, or who dare to spank their children, or tell them that God is real, or than salvation is only though Jesus. Maybe we should just let our government train our children, because they clearly know best how our children should be raised?children

ginas said on July 13, 2011 at 8:36 PM

first time they tried to do it they'd be hit with years of legal battles and court expenses. and rightfully so. then come the lawsuits against the government for children mistreated in foster care.. the list goes on and on. above all the potential costs, they need to let parents be parents.

javajoe said on July 13, 2011 at 8:30 PM

The AMA has lost their minds!

fellowtraveller said on July 13, 2011 at 8:11 PM

First calorie control and then thought control? I would be more worried about violent video games and their effects on young minds -- sorry, U.S. Supreme Court -- than kids who can't touch their toes. And the other posts on the current state of foster care, good as it is in many cases, should give pause.

Tangpo said on July 13, 2011 at 8:07 PM

Hey why stop with fat kids? Why not take away the kids who do poorly in school since obviously the parents are failing to educate them properly and they will be completely unsuccessful in life. Or maybe the poorly dressed kids because if they're unattractive it MUST be the fault of the lazy parents not spending enough effort on their appearance and what damage to their self esteem. What about misbehaving kids since their parents are failing to discipline them properly and they may turn into delinquents. Better yet, how about these so called "doctors" lose their medical licenses for being complete unadulterated idiots.

soringangl said on July 13, 2011 at 7:57 PM

I'm outraged that anyone would even suggest obese children should be taken away from their parents! My daughter has had a weight issue since the day she was born and I only gained 22 pounds with my pregnancy. And to those who are equating obese children with obese parents I'm a size 4 and told I need to gain weight! My kids are now 14 and 17. My 17 year old is in great shape without an ounce of fat. My 14 year old works out 1 1/2 to 2 hours a day and she is still overweight. She has always gotten at least an hour to three hours of exercise at least five days a week since she was four. She can out run and out last almost every one of her "skinny" friends. She made it to conference in track as a freshman this year. My kids were only allowed fast food once every couple of weeks and we rarely even did that. We have done everything to try and help her. I've taken college courses on nutrition and eat a healthy diet. So stop judging until you walk a mile in my shoes & my daughters!

collegekid said on July 13, 2011 at 7:49 PM

This is the most absurd thing I've ever heard. Our government is full of idiots.

tooldtocare said on July 13, 2011 at 7:46 PM

I am so tired of this!!!! Lets just give birth and give our children to the government!!! Let them raise them happy, healthy, drug freee, not obese, not abused and so on. The freakin foster care program is the worst thing in this country, but I guess the big shots do not care. Now you are going to let the Doctor's control this?? No way. Parents are not perfect, but until I see every Doctor's child, or nurse or government worker and so on have skinny kids, kiss off!!

applmagotqrntine said on July 13, 2011 at 7:44 PM

More shameful hatin' on the fatties. What about chubby babies? Should they be taken away as well? Why not just put these little pigs in prison where no one will have to see them?

cluelessinseattl said on July 13, 2011 at 7:21 PM

The government can't even protect the current children in the foster system from abuse, do you really want to add to the problem by adding obese children? Why not just spend the billions of dollars that this would cost on education?

eastsiderocks said on July 13, 2011 at 7:21 PM

Send them to fat camp

gladimoved said on July 13, 2011 at 7:19 PM

NO, NO, NO! This is a joke, isn't it? Obese children are likely the product of obese parents. So does Michell Obama want to shoot the parents for raising obese children? That's just stupid.

thecrankster said on July 13, 2011 at 7:16 PM

Just go out and find your local government official and report that your kid is fat so they can take them to the newly formed government anti fat internment camp for retraining.

shoreline said on July 13, 2011 at 7:12 PM

What about kids who don't wear thier bike helmets? And don't forget the ones who don't get all the required vaccinations! And get those infants who aren't breast fed into foster care ASAP!

ccisme7 said on July 13, 2011 at 7:04 PM

I wonder how long it will be until the call to remove children from parent's who smoke?

freemonttroll said on July 13, 2011 at 6:47 PM

I can't believe that this is even a topic of consideration.

goodgurl480 said on July 13, 2011 at 6:34 PM

smh...That is absolutely rediculous. So who is responsible for monitoring and enforcing healthy nutritional values in the meals that public schools serve? I was absolutely shocked to see the high fat and sugar content in a standard elementary school meal! And what makes it so bad, is that many families receive free or reduced lunches, so how is that the parents fault....and I have personally seen kids only eat the junk on their plates. Are we going to have teachers become "lunch police" next? What we should be aiming for is to make healthier food more affordable.

dawgswin said on July 13, 2011 at 6:31 PM

I think that people like Mandy should go ahead and PAY for all of the foster care then.. Lets see how quickly her big yaps shut. There is nobody on this planet, not the government, not my next door neighbor, not even my parents are going to tell me how to raise my children. Mandy, I dare you to challenge me..

luna1sierra said on July 13, 2011 at 6:28 PM

what a load of the finest for gardens! Genetics cannot be altered , our family has an accelerated growth rate, taking my son and putting him in foster care would not change that. He is 6'6" ish and 290 lbs, at age 16 yrs. He will grow more. Some people are simply big.

ginas said on July 13, 2011 at 6:04 PM

i think it's outrageous and wonder at what point government stops trying to parent (and stops trying to get in the front door of every american household) and tries to work affectively at governing. making rediculous recommendations like this 'to get people talking about the problem' should discredit the reputation of those making the recommendations. and how much would this add to the deficit in the form of foster homes? granted, some are worth their weight in gold, others have been in the headlines many times over my lifetime as far less than desireable under any circumstances.