Harvard Researchers Want Fat Kids Taken From Their Parents

From the Article:

As the Western world gets fatter and fatter, the solutions to slimming it down get ever more draconian. In Britain yesterday, the government issued guidelines saying "children under the age of 5, including babies who can't walk yet, should exercise every day." Today, in the States, a pair of Harvard scholars writing in the Journal of the American Medical Association advocate stripping away the custody rights of parents of super obese children. They're for real!

"Despite the discomfort posed by state intervention, it may sometimes be necessary to protect a child," said Lindsey Murtagh, a lawyer and researcher at Harvard's School of Public Health. The study's co-author, David Ludwig, says taking away peoples' children "ideally will support not just the child but the whole family, with the goal of reuniting child and family as soon as possible."

Link to Full Article HERE

The state knows best! :roll:

I think something drastic should be done but this is a little extreme. I would suggest court ordered fitness programs and diet classes. I'm just tired of people blaming the food for their fatness as if the food forces them to eat it. The list of medical and social problems these kids will encounter is endless. junglist101

I just say go around calling fat people fat after they hear it for a while they might be motivated to do something.

I actually agree with this. gameguy6700

[QUOTE="junglist101"]I think something drastic should be done but this is a little extreme. I would suggest court ordered fitness programs and diet classes. I'm just tired of people blaming the food for their fatness as if the food forces them to eat it. The list of medical and social problems these kids will encounter is endless. chaoscougar1

IF parents cannot manage their childrens health effectively, they shouldn't be parents. They aren't being deprived of information that would prevent them from being effective parents to begin wtih. There is an element of personal responsability and choice involved here. I'm of the mind that it's the communities responsability to raise children. Expecting parents to be able to cope and manage on their own is not beneficial to the children, or to future generations of people. Especialy, when it's clear that they are failing. I don't think that the government would do a better job parenting. But the community definately needs to get involved besides complaining about parents, and wiping their hands clean of any responsability. Somebody has to hold the parents accountable. It would be best if they could do that for themselves. It'll happen within the group, but not as long as we allow people to hide beind walls and keep their family affairs to themselves, and say 'that's their right' nobody has anything to complain about. Still I hear them complaining.

[QUOTE="gameguy6700"]I actually agree with this. YellowOneKinobi

[QUOTE="YellowOneKinobi"]

[QUOTE="gameguy6700"]I actually agree with this. gameguy6700

EDIT: In addition, you do realize that as of 2006 there were over 26,000 kids waiting for Foster Homes. I can only assume that number has increased over the past few years.

Harvard full of Blue Bloods what else would expect?

Besides the above point, you are making the argument that the state and not the parents knows how to raise children best.

[QUOTE="gameguy6700"][QUOTE="YellowOneKinobi"]Ok, so you swoop in and take these kids away from their parents (undoubtedly traumatizing the heck out of 'em)..... and then do what with the kids?

YellowOneKinobi

These researchers are way out of tune with reality.

Give them to foster parents that will actually take care of them properly? Like I said, if your kid is obese you've proven yourself to be an incompetent, neglectful parent and considering the long term health effects I'd say it is child abuse to let your kid be obese.gameguy6700

[QUOTE="YellowOneKinobi"]

[QUOTE="gameguy6700"] Give them to foster parents that will actually take care of them properly? Like I said, if your kid is obese you've proven yourself to be an incompetent, neglectful parent and considering the long term health effects I'd say it is child abuse to let your kid be obese.gameguy6700

Also, you do realize that diet is one of a limitless number of facets of raising a well adjusted kid, right?

Further, you think that the trauma of ripping away a kid from his/her family for reasons they likely wouldn't comprehend just goes away? Physical scars heal, emotional ones not so much.

And again (and I added this in an edit so I can't blame you for not addressing it) there are tens of thousands of kids waiting for Foster Homes. Where exactly do you plan on putting these kids?

The researchers say that "super obese" kids should be taken away, so it's not like they're recommending the government should come in if your kid is just overweight. I'm guessing they mean the type of kids that show up on Maury and are 5 years old but hundreds of pounds. I wouldn't have a problem with them being taken away because they obviously have parents who don't want to parent. JML897

If you want to have kids, then you have to raise them our way - the state.

There have always been skinny kids always been fat kids, its just the way it is, bodies are different.

What is to happen next, a perfect wait/height to weight ratio and if you go + or - 5 kgs you get taken away from home?

There have always been skinny kids always been fat kids, its just the way it is, bodies are different.

What is to happen next, a perfect wait/height to weight ratio and if you go + or - 5 kgs you get taken away from home?

If you want to have kids, then you have to raise them our way - the state.

sonicare

The state's not even recommending this though, I don't see why you're so outraged. It's just some guys at Harvard.

[QUOTE="tenaka2"]

There have always been skinny kids always been fat kids, its just the way it is, bodies are different.

What is to happen next, a perfect wait/height to weight ratio and if you go + or - 5 kgs you get taken away from home?

sonicare

[QUOTE="sonicare"]

If you want to have kids, then you have to raise them our way - the state.

The state's not even recommending this though, I don't see why you're so outraged. It's just some guys at Harvard.

[QUOTE="sonicare"]

If you want to have kids, then you have to raise them our way - the state.

JML897

The state's not even recommending this though, I don't see why you're so outraged. It's just some guys at Harvard.

There have always been skinny kids always been fat kids, its just the way it is, bodies are different.

What is to happen next, a perfect wait/height to weight ratio and if you go + or - 5 kgs you get taken away from home?

[QUOTE="gameguy6700"][QUOTE="YellowOneKinobi"]First, I'm not sure exactly why you think that Foster Parents are going to be superior to Biological Parents. But beyond that, what do you think the long term mental health/social issues will be for kids forcefully taken from their parents be?

sonicare

Also, in response to the other guy, yes screening isn't perfect. That's no reason to not remove a kid from an abusive home, and like I said, letting your kid be obese (not just fat, obese) is abuse. Also, I'm not familiar with the stats on foster family overcrowding, so I can't really comment on that. I was under the impression it's not a problem, but if it is there are always other solutions. One doesn't have to take the kids away the second someone sees a fat kid. The parents could be given several chances to improve, but if after a year or two they're still feeding their kid five happy meals a day then its time to take more drastic measures.

[QUOTE="sonicare"][QUOTE="gameguy6700"] gameguy6700

Also, in response to the other guy, yes screening isn't perfect. That's no reason to not remove a kid from an abusive home, and like I said, letting your kid be obese (not just fat, obese) is abuse. Also, I'm not familiar with the stats on foster family overcrowding, so I can't really comment on that.I was under the impression it's not a problem, but if it is there are always other solutions. One doesn't have to take the kids away the second someone sees a fat kid. The parents could be given several chances to improve, but if after a year or two they're still feeding their kid five happy meals a day then its time to take more drastic measures.

[QUOTE="gameguy6700"]

[QUOTE="sonicare"] Pretty soon people will have to apply for a license to have a child?YellowOneKinobi

Also, in response to the other guy, yes screening isn't perfect. That's no reason to not remove a kid from an abusive home, and like I said, letting your kid be obese (not just fat, obese) is abuse. Also, I'm not familiar with the stats on foster family overcrowding, so I can't really comment on that.I was under the impression it's not a problem, but if it is there are always other solutions. One doesn't have to take the kids away the second someone sees a fat kid. The parents could be given several chances to improve, but if after a year or two they're still feeding their kid five happy meals a day then its time to take more drastic measures.

[QUOTE="YellowOneKinobi"]

[QUOTE="gameguy6700"] Admit it, you know that would actually be a really good ****ing idea if it were feasible.

Also, in response to the other guy, yes screening isn't perfect. That's no reason to not remove a kid from an abusive home, and like I said, letting your kid be obese (not just fat, obese) is abuse. Also, I'm not familiar with the stats on foster family overcrowding, so I can't really comment on that.I was under the impression it's not a problem, but if it is there are always other solutions. One doesn't have to take the kids away the second someone sees a fat kid. The parents could be given several chances to improve, but if after a year or two they're still feeding their kid five happy meals a day then its time to take more drastic measures.

gameguy6700

(I'mpoking fun of politicans, not you gameguy).

Your topic title is misleading, they are only advocating taking away custody rights for parents of obese (or more specifically I think more extreme cases of obesity) children. This is a difficult issue, I don't really have an opinion on this at this time (or at least in instances where a child is so obese that it could pose significant health problems in the relatively near future).

If parents are letting their kids eat out of control, they should be taken away from them.

If they are overweight due to a genetic or medical issue, then of course they shouldn't be taken away.

Letting your kids eat like a pig is just as bad as letting your kid play backyard wrestling and jumping off their roof trying to do a spinning piledriver to their best buddy.

Same negligence - same health risks - same stupidity.

Your topic title is misleading, they are only advocating taking away custody rights for parents of obese (or more specifically I think more extreme cases of obesity) children. This is a difficult issue, I don't really have an opinion on this at this time (or at least in instances where a child is so obese that it could pose significant health problems in the relatively near future).

chessmaster1989

[QUOTE="chessmaster1989"]

Your topic title is misleading, they are only advocating taking away custody rights for parents of obese (or more specifically I think more extreme cases of obesity) children. This is a difficult issue, I don't really have an opinion on this at this time (or at least in instances where a child is so obese that it could pose significant health problems in the relatively near future).

YellowOneKinobi

Then the article headline was misleading, which still makes your topic title misleading.

I dont know. I would not be so eager to separate children from their parents. Usually that's a very bad thing for them. Currently, only in severe cases of abuse and neglect seem to be appropriate. You could say that obesity is a form of neglect, but that's a little bit of a reach.

I dont know. I would not be so eager to separate children from their parents. Usually that's a very bad thing for them. Currently, only in severe cases of abuse and neglect seem to be appropriate. You could say that obesity is a form of neglect, but that's a little bit of a reach.

sonicare

Harvard needs to stop letting these idiots in.HexedPelican

If a set of parents is feeding their kid McDonald's Burgers and Fries every single day for every single meal, then yes, the kids should be put in foster care and the parents should be in jail.

I feel bad for the kid, but it's the parents fault for being such D-bags.

If a set of parents is feeding their kid McDonald's Burgers and Fries every single day for every single meal, then yes, the kids should be put in foster care and the parents should be in jail.

I feel bad for the kid, but it's the parents fault for being such D-bags.

The researchers say that "super obese" kids should be taken away, so it's not like they're recommending the government should come in if your kid is just overweight. I'm guessing they mean the type of kids that show up on Maury and are 5 years old but hundreds of pounds. I wouldn't have a problem with them being taken away because they obviously have parents who don't want to parent. JML897

It's not a little over weight we're talking about. Is there really anything wrong with wanting this girl to be taken away from her parents, and put into a homw where she might finally lose some of her serious weight? When a child gets that big, it is unquestionably abuse.

If a set of parents is feeding their kid McDonald's Burgers and Fries every single day for every single meal, then yes, the kids should be put in foster care and the parents should be in jail.

I feel bad for the kid, but it's the parents fault for being such D-bags.

Netherscourge

Don't get me wrong, I get frustrated with bad parenting. But I dont know if taking the kids away is the right solution.

I just say go around calling fat people fat after they hear it for a while they might be motivated to do something.

POPEYE1716

The question is what would they be motivated to do? Lose weight? Suicide? Spazz out and go on a murdering spree? Everyone is different and some people can not help it. Others might have other problems that lead to it.

In any case, those Havard researchers don't sound very bright.

[QUOTE="POPEYE1716"]

I just say go around calling fat people fat after they hear it for a while they might be motivated to do something.

The question is what would they be motivated to do? Lose weight? Suicide? Spazz out and go on a murdering spree? Everyone is different and some people can not help it. Others might have other problems that lead to it.

In any case, those Havard researchers don't sound very bright.

[QUOTE="YellowOneKinobi"]

[QUOTE="gameguy6700"]I actually agree with this. gameguy6700

A little extreme. There should be some sort of tax on obese people, though, unless they can prove that they don't have some sort of medical condition that causes them to gain a lot of weight (such as PRader Willi Syndrome).