Childhood Obesity -- Should it be a crime?

Even assuming legislatures started enacting such legislation, how would it be enforced? Do you just start pulling heavy kids off the street and locking up their parents? How would authorities determine who is to blame for the overfeeding? Do they lock up both parents even though only one controls the child's diet? Do they lock up the parents when the child's obesity is due to the kind of food that the child is buying or getting from other places (friends' houses)?

that was my question. I don't think kids should be removed from homes (except in extreme cases) or that the parents should face jail time, but just as in homes where neglect is suspected, social services should be called in to monitor and attempt to help the situation while the threat of re-housing a child looms as motivation. My mother in law was a CASA for a while and, while I agree obesity is a big american problem, there are far worse things going on in homes than over eating that take up a lot of their time. Many times courts would allow children to stay in homes with open heavy drug use, and repeat offenders, even though she had lined up foster homes that were apparently more than capable and willing to offer the children a better life.

I know a little girl who is extremely obese. Her mom is single and gives the girl food and tv to get her out of her hair. This situation screams for some attention from a governing body, because the girl is a beautiful smart little girl who will never know what it's like to live a normal life. She is treated poorly by her peers and has no self esteem, which only aids to her overeating... and she's 13 years old at 280 lbs. She's been obese her entire life. In this case I may indeed condone the relocation (or legitimate threat thereof) for the betterment of the child.

Quake you run a 8 min mile while over 300lbs? I am sure you are in shape, but I am still in disbelief. It just doesn't physically possible to me.

Quake you run a 8 min mile while over 300lbs? I am sure you are in shape, but I am still in disbelief. It just doesn't physically possible to me.

He could be all muscle? Nah, I got to go with you and call b.s.

I think having ugly children should be a crime. Ugly is worse than fat. You can lose wieght. Ugly is forever and always.

I think having ugly children should be a crime. Ugly is worse than fat. You can lose wieght. Ugly is forever and always.

That's what plastic surgery is for. :D

But seriously, I also heard some chick say that ugly people should be killed and harvested for their organs. :doh:

The question is what would you do with these kids? Our social services are already strained to the limit and beyond.

Wow, this is calling for some serious government intervention into our lives.

First, there can be a ton of reasons why a kid would be overweight. It could flat out be an unhealthy lifestyle, like you said. But there are a myriad of medical reasons for obesity, it could also be a thyroid problem, a genetic condition, a psychological problem, etc. And a bigger concern: a financial problem. Healthy food is way more expensive than stuff you can get from McDonalds. And if you don't have the cash to buy healthy food, chances are you're more likely to live in an area where it's not safe to have your kids playing outside and getting exercise.

Absent a medical problem, or genetic predisposition, or financial constraints, and you still are feeding your child junk with no exercise, then I can see your point. But way too many kids have extenuating circumstances. The notion that you could possibly enforce a law like this shows a complete lack of understanding of the social issues at play when it comes to childhood obesity.

Not to mention the government should not be telling us how to raise our kids (personal opinion).

Horrible idea.

He could be all muscle? Nah, I got to go with you and call b.s.

I now picture Quake as a more powerful-looking Mike Sellers.

That's what plastic surgery is for. :D

But seriously, I also heard some chick say that ugly people should be killed and harvested for their organs. :doh:

Is it bad that I laughed at that?

A crime? No chance, because it simply couldn't be enforced.

Even if there was a binary test that could conclusively determine if a child is obese due to the parents' negligence, I'd still be wary. What is the penalty? Jail the parents and put the kids into foster care?