Is overfeeding kids child abuse?

by Sandy Maple (Subscribe to Sandy Maple's posts) Jun 18th 2007 3:02PM

Categories: Just For Moms, Just For Dads, Places To Go, Eating & Nutrition, Development

Last month, Kristin wrote about a 400 pound child and pondered whether her parent's were guilty of abuse for letting their seven-year-old child get that heavy. The consensus among those who commented on her story was that the girl was most likely suffering from a medical condition, not abuse.

Regardless of that particular girl's condition, some doctors are calling for legislation that would prosecute parents who overfeed their children. Specifically, they want parents of obese children under the age of 12 to be charged with neglect.

Dr. Matt Capehorn, a general physician who has treated children with dietary disorders says: "My colleagues and I were concerned because we noticed a discrepancy in the way society, the medical profession and the courts treat an obese child compared with a malnourished child. There is outrage if a child is skin-and-bone – but it only happens in extreme cases with obese children."

Dr. Capehorn believes that parents should first be educated about how to improve their children's diets. If they fail to follow recommendations, he says those parents should be turned over to authorities. But the Chairman of the Child Growth Foundation, Tam Fry, says the proposed legislation is " "too sweeping and simplistic" and that many parents of obese children are trying, albeit unsuccessfully, to keep their children healthy.

I don't completely understand how a parent could be unsuccessful in limiting a young child's food intake. What do you think? Should parents who overfeed their children be prosecuted?

Source

Comments (17)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Stephanie 6-18-2007 @ 3:24PM

I think that this could easily be overdone. As they said, "too sweeping and simplistic". My kids don't have overeating problems, but that doesn't mean I think it would be easy to change their habits.

Having parents in general learn more about feeding their children healthy meals could be a good idea. My daughter's preschool requires parents to take their choice of parenting classes, and one of the options did relate to how you feed kids. It's something a lot of parents, not just ones with obviously obese children could use.

Laura Harms 6-18-2007 @ 4:02PM

I definitely agree that parents should be charged with neglect or some form of abuse if they allow their child to get to a certain point of obesity. Especially, as stated, if parents are being charged for malnurished children. It is the parents who predominantly purchase, prepare and provide food for their children. The parents choose what types of food their children are consuming and in what quantities.

AnnaMaria 6-18-2007 @ 4:10PM

You cannot simply make judgement calls like this on people and their children. I myself don't have problems with my kids being overweight. In fact, it's just the opposite. However I know that with obese children, it's not simply a matter of being over fed. My sister in law has always been considered obese, and she doesn't eat a lot, nor does she eat all the time. She as always been big, and now, at 26, she is finally discovering that there is a problem with her pituitary gland!

I can appreciate the desire to protect children, but have we forgotten how MOST of the country is obese? In our day and age, most families have both parents working, and in a lot of areas, commuting an hour or more betweeen work and home, which doesn't even include the time it takes to pick them up from school, daycare, etc. A lot of times, it's easier and faster to stop at McDonalds or Arby's or Pizza Hut on the way home. Not to mention it's CHEAPER than buying/making a real, home cooked meal. And when you're exhausted after work, you fairly frequently don't have the energy or even TIME to make a decent meal before it's time for them to go to bed! Everyone knows that fast food is the worst junk you can put in your body, but when that is all that's offered/available/affordable, what can you do?

Heather 6-18-2007 @ 4:17PM

I think that maybe in severe cases the courts should get involved. But parents decide what there children eat and what groceries are in the house. It is not cheaper to cook at home and it is a habit that once you get used to doing is easy to establish. Find simple recipes, break out your slow cookers, and realize that the examples you set to them as a child will follow them for life. Stop blaming everyone else for your fat kids!

kimk20554 6-18-2007 @ 4:43PM

Prosecuting parents for neglect or abuse may be going too far but I'd love to see a system where parents of obese children would be forced to have them evaluated for medical problems and if none are present have a mandatory class that would teach them how to properly feed their kids and what will happen if they don't.
I see way too many really obese kids these days, and even if it's a result of a medical condition the kids need to be on well balanced diets. Medical condition is the current excuse to let the kids eat what they like. Last week there was a toddler in Safeway with his mother, the kid was huge, a real thunderthighs and I watched the mother feed him cookies and candy all the way through the store to keep him quiet. It's lazy parenting. Saying "no" is not easy but it has to be done.

Jade H. 6-18-2007 @ 5:13PM

I think something definitely has to be done about the obesity epidemic in society, and it starts with the children and those responsible for their health and their care.
I think that, if after attempts to educate parents are made, and attempts to evaluate a child's possible medical disorders prove unsuccessful, the parent should be charged with neglect. Nutrionaly nourishing your child is a major health concern that CAN NOT be ignored, much like every other health concern!
And as for portable foods- I'm sorry, convenience and nutrition is not a difficult standard to meet. There are several fruits and veggies that can EASILY be made portable. Not to mention quick frozen alternatives for 'last minute' meals. Bottom line: If it's a priority for you, you will make it happen.
I say, buckle down, government. If these people won't recognize it as not only an important priority but a crucial one, you need to show them that it is.

Nancy Toby 6-18-2007 @ 5:05PM

We don't prosecute parents of truants and petty criminals in this country, and yet they want to prosecute parents of fat kids?

Insanity. Total insanity.

CLM 6-18-2007 @ 5:06PM

First step is to clearly determine there is no underlying medical issue. Second step is to educate the parents in appropriate foods and food habits for the child. Third step, if state services such as food stamps are involved, is to make sure there is enough income in the house to adequately feed the family. Fourth step, monitor the situation. If these measures fail, then and only then (in my opinion) is there a reasonable basis to charge parents with neglect.

Jamie 6-18-2007 @ 8:15PM

I don't believe that stopping by a fast food restaurant is cheaper or faster than a home cooked meal. No one cooks like Betty Crocker anymore. No one expects a parent to. I grew up in an 1800 sq ft home with 3 siblings and a Mother who did it all by herself with very little money coming in. She managed to take care of 4 kids, a house, and a 1.5-acre yard without feeding us junk food or frozen dinners. Believe me, I don't know how she did it. I can only tell you that she did a great job. I greatest impact on childhood obesiety is due to the lack of time our children are spending outdoors and doing physical activity. I am going to make sure my children stay physically active. My son is 3 years of age and he gets no more than 2 hours of TV a day (most days we don't watch any) and we spend a lot of time outside in our backyard or at parks. I have an XBox, but my child does NOT! He has no form of a video game. I can only hope that I will keep him on a healthy track. I believe we can influence children better by creating safe playing environments for them so that they can safely express themselves and stay fit and healthy. If you have never been to the YMCA think that route too. They offer scholarships for families in need so that all people can benefit from being physically healthy. I am not certain about punishing parents for obese children. I do not see any benifit from that for the child.

Melodie 6-18-2007 @ 9:32PM

I usually don't comment on blogs but this one touched me. I am a larger woman. In fact my entire family is on the big side. Of course some would think we ate Big Macs and pizza but we ate balanced meals and the only soda I had was diet and only once in awhile. What interested me this the fact that most everone feels this lays squarely with the parents. I can tell you that from experience if I wanted a candy bar and my parents wouldn't get for me I found other avenues to get that candy bar.
Parents do have the majority over what children eat but it isn't only about food but exercise too. And if a child is already heavy it is difficult to exercise for a child and any parent knows that they can send a child outside to play but unless they want to, they won't do anything but sit outside. So you can take away game systems and T.V. but really it doesn't matter. I wanted to read books and listen to music. So I grew bigger. It wasn't until college that I learned to eat proper or at least take what my parents had tried to teach me and apply it to myself.
So give the parents a break and realize there are other things that cause obesity then food and medical problems.

Tamyu 6-19-2007 @ 1:56AM

Question;
Is *under*feeding children abuse?

If your answer is yes, then overfeeding should also be considered abuse.

HOWEVER, I don`t think that an overweight child equals overfeeding. Or in many cases even lax parenting. Some children are larger than others - I`ve seen MASSIVE 5 year olds end up as super-slim teenagers, and I`ve also seen it go the other way.

Simply assuming overfeeding based ONLY on the weight of the child is ludicrous. In my own personal experience, underfeeding results in the same sort of effect - the child binge eats when they get the chance to make up for what they didn`t get at home.

I think an obese child should be looked at from a medical view to determine what the real problem is. If it is indeed overfeeding, then yes, it is abuse. If it is caused by some other factor, the family should work toward remedying that.

Mammacheryl 6-19-2007 @ 9:34AM

Both my husband and I are morbidly obese, and we're very aware of what we feed our son. We don't buy junk food, so our son doesn't eat candy or cookies. We don't encourage him to overeat. He eats until he's full and then he pushes the plate away. It's working for us. He's a slender toddler with a lot of energy.

Because of genetics, he'll be predisposed to heaviness his whole life. It's our responsibility as parents to make sure that he has all the tools he needs to keep his weight under control.

I think it's reasonable for social services to investigate what goes on in the households of morbidly obese children. For some families, abuse may be indicated. For others, it'll be a medical condition that they can get counseling and help for.

M4Mommy 6-21-2007 @ 3:09PM

I had a 3 year old daycare girl that would be dropped off every morning with a LARGE sippy cup(more like a cup for adults to use during the day. Filled with her "breakfast" 16oz oz Carnation Instant Breakfast. I was told by the parents during the interview that she "only ate chicken nuggets and only drank choc milk" Both parents were large.

Within a week the child was eating fruits, veggies and GOOD food. She was drinking water at snack time and 2% milk at lunch. Within a month she had lost weight and was able to actually PLAY with the other kids.

As far as fast food being cheaper? what a bullshit excuse! Fruits and vegetables, hamburger, eggs and chicken are not THAT expensive. It boils down to laziness. That is why America is full of obese kids and adults. But it is a choice for MANY(not all) to be obese. Some people do have medical reasons for being overweight. But for so many it is just the lack of education and the ease of excuses.

However when it is a child that is obese. it falls on the parents. If your kid is fat. Have the doctor rule out any medical issue!! For the love of god. Dont let them grow up to be obese and unhealthy. If it is an obvious reason. ie Mcdonalds more than once a week and JR sitting on his fat ass on the couch. then take charge! Tell them NO!!!!! Get them out and exercising. Walking, swimming, childs gym group. Walking the dog. If you say theres no time when you get home, get up earlier and go!

I got a wake up call a few months ago. A HS classmate of mine died at the age of 37. He left a daughter and wife. He wasnt un active( had his own landscaping business) But there are so many people out there that are. why add the risks? Myself> I get up at 6 and walk 2 miles nearly every morning. Some mornings I am up earlier. This, added to my already busy day chasing my active 4 year old around and playing with the other kids... is melting the weight off. Which is better for me AND for my daughter. because I will not only be ther when she gets older, but she is seeing how to live a healthy life

M4Mommy 6-22-2007 @ 12:49PM

heavens, that's "IN active"
Way too little sleep lately. ;)

Deena 6-22-2007 @ 11:24PM

I just wanted to add that my son is almost 1 and is 36 lbs old. They have been evalutating his weight since 2 months when he started gaining. In March at around 8 months he was in the hospital for 15 days evaulating his heart and weight issues. As of now, nothing could be found..but they are watching him. They first immediately accused me of overfeeding..but after a 4 day calorie count and them seeing what I feed him, they quickly determined it was NOTHING I was doing. My husband is a little large, I am normal and my daughter is 3, 34 lber. She has always been normal weight and skinny and proportioned. Dr.'s are still trying to figure out what is going on..so just because something medical didn't show up at first doesn't mean it isn't there. Sometimes they said with pituatary (sp?) issues, somethings might now show up until they are around 4 or so. I get looks, comments, and othe rude things said before anyone even stops to think MEDICAL...just ASSUME it's something I did...so please remember before you comment or give dirty looks, think first that there are medical issues out there. I know it breaks my heart and I cry for someone to belittle me or make fun of my child when he's a baby and clearly has a medical issue they are still trying to determine - possible something linked genetically because of some chromosome issues found.

SKL 6-25-2007 @ 9:24PM

I don't think such a rule could be enforced consistently. Two kids of the same height and age, eating the same food every day, could have very different weights. My brother was extremely scrawny but he ate more than anyone I know. We're talking a pound (dry) of spaghetti at a single meal. He just happened had a high metabolism. Should my parents have been punished because he ate more than the obese girl across the street? If not, then why should that obese girl's parents be punished? She cried for more food, stole food, etc., her parents tried to regulate her diet, and she ate less than lots of skinny kids. Yet according to some posters here, her parents should be punished? It wouldn't be fair.

In addition, many kids get only one meal at home with their parents; the rest is determined by school and whatever else the kids can scrounge while their parents are at work. School menus are often a lot less healthy than those in obese kids' homes. So let's be careful how we place the blame.

Francessca-Lou 7-11-2007 @ 2:21PM

As a parent myself I understand how difficult it can be sometimes to get my child to eat the right sort of foods , even on occasions how tiring it is to cook a meal from scratch after a really busy day,
yet the thought of my child having a life full of avoidable medical problems and a shorter life span lies heavy on my conscience. (excuse the pun)!

There is no excuse aside from medical conditions for a child to be overweight and as a parent you have to take full responsibility for your childs health until they are old enough to assume the responsibility themselves. A child can only eat what is provided for them and at times when the food is put out for them so overfeeding is definately the fault of the parent.

I believe parents shouldbe first given the opportunity to change their childs eating habits and lifestyle if they do not comply I definately believe they should be charged with cruelty and have their children removed from their care and put into a safe environment.

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