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The latest Medical Journal of Australia contained an interesting - and potentially explosive - article on the childhood obesity epidemic.
At the heart of the matter, the article asked, when is childhood obesity a matter of child abuse? When should child protective services be asked to intervene?
It is unquestionably a tricky and difficult question.
Within the article, Dr Shirley Alexander and her colleagues asserted that severe childhood obesity is a common problem that can result in acute and chronic life-threatening complications and examined the case of a severely obese child whose parents were unwilling to help her lose weight.
The article goes on to state that the experts argue that under severe circumstances, such a situation would equal child abuse and would necessitate the calling of child protection.
To view the article: http://www.mja.com.au/public/issues/190_03_020209/ale11409_fm.html
For more information: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/137504.php
Parents/readers, what do you think? Where do you stand on this issue? I'd like to hear from you!
CDC information on childhood obesity - http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/obesity/childhood/
Comments
Ohhhh that is so unkind, they are not fat, no they are just big boned.
A little bit of puppy fat for the growth spurt.
These university types who wrote the report, Shirley M Alexander, Louise A Baur, Roger Magnusson, Bernadette Tobin, well I am sure they meant well but they don't really seem to know what they are talking about.
Picking on children like that because they are a little on the cuddly side. How awful.
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