Should Parents of Obese Kids Lose Custody?

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The doctor is in that and childhood obesity of courses are growing problem in this country.

Since 1980 the number of obese children has more than tripled.

Today approximately twelve and a half million kids are obese.

And these children face health problems including cardiovascular disease diabetes bone and joint problems among other things and now.

This crisis is sparking a very controversial moral dilemma.

Should the parents of extremely obese children lose custody for not controlling their kids' weight.

Also happened to single mom Jerry gray her fourteen year old son weighed more than.

550.

Pounds he was taken away from her two years ago and since that time.

He has lost more than 200 pounds but gray says he still calls -- all the time asking when he can come back home.

Doctor Manny Alvarez is the senior managing editor for Fox News health dot com and also a member of the Fox News medical eighteen thanks -- for joining us.

So -- a big article right now in the journal of the American Medical Association supporting the idea of removing these kids at least temporarily but you think it's a slippery slope.

It is I think is very premature and it can be quite dangerous in many circumstances because look.

You know when a child is in danger it's a -- territorial problem you know and neglect physical abuse mental abuse.

Hostile environment but if you look at the obesity problem for a lot of kids in America.

It's an economic problem.

It's an educational problem.

Paris have to work two and three jobs to make ends meet they have to can't abide the cheapest food available on what that is is mostly food -- obesity.

So you know it's not necessarily at this is this to me is very problematic because the the last thing you want to do is to have some sort of bureaucrat with a high school diploma come to your house and take your child away because somebody has reported that child to be extremely overweight.

You know what they -- what the government should do and physicians and medical professionals.

We should be working towards finding solutions.

That -- that pat -- can utilize effectively.

In dealing with the extreme weight problems and I think that this approach even though it has been utilize and people argue well you see that kid that was 500 pounds.

He lost 200 pounds and therefore that was -- success story maybe not maybe in these psychological scars of -- taxing families from one another is probably as devastating as the obesity problem.

And look you could argue and I'm sorry -- -- -- -- -- -- -- because this this has been very upset you you know what happens with the chalice failing school and he or she gets all half.

Are you gonna come in and say well that's -- -- -- because you don't do homework with your children.

You don't -- -- can't -- kids how to have good grace and therefore we gonna dig that and the state is gonna supervising children so we have to be very careful.

In this overtaking of every time we have a problem we go on we break up families so that's my point here.

-- bio ethicist art Caplan says obese children are victims of advertising marketing peer pressure and bullying.

Things a parent can't control but as we've pointed out -- you pointed out.

When these kids are removed of that one night kid was sent to live right -- plus 200 pounds -- they are losing weight so obviously parents have some control.

I don't I'm not only that had there are cases where you do have a an abuse and overall abuse.

What obesity is a consequence.

Of neglect and punishment and therefore it is perfectly OK then.

To salvage that child but.

Just on the policy and looking at one specific aspect and is being obesity I think it's premature ending.

Alright doctor Manny Alvarez this is -- -- big debate for awhile thank you for joining us.

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Should Parents of Obese Kids Lose Custody?

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