A story left me flabbergasted as I sat eating breakfast and watching Good Morning America. There is an 8 year old boy in England who weighs in at 218 pounds. The government has deemed it is not child abuse but I disagree.
This boy will never lead a normal life. He is the size of a robust, grown male adult. He snacks every twenty minutes. He consumes an average of 4 bags of chips and 2 boxes of cookies a day. I wonder why his mother continues to stock their home with junk food when she has a morbidly obese child.
In the interview, the mother said candidly, “He was born hungry and has been hungry ever since.” She seems to take no blame in his present situation although after seeing a nutritionist by court order, the boy lost 20 pounds. Even with this seeming proof that the cause of his weight is not a disorder but a direct result of his environment, the officials allowed him to stay under the care of his mother.
It baffles me how a child who has broken two trampolines and three bicycles is still in this negligent environment. He is a child who wants to play along with his peers and I am sure recognizes his many differences, but there is not a parent present to alter his doomed fate.
In response to the national outrage of this story Prince Charles has made the controversial suggestion to ban McDonalds in the UK. This somehow implies that McDonald’s presence alone is causing England to become more obese. I will admit that America is the most unhealthy, overweight nation on the planet but taking away one American temptation will not cure people’s desire to eat poorly.
I know all too well what a powerful influence food can have over you. My entire family struggles with obesity and I have worked hard to remain “pleasantly plump” and not cross that line. It is difficult but ultimately I am the one choosing to eat McDonalds, or chips, or chocolate instead of grabbing an apple. In the case of this child, his mother should be choosing for him. She should prevent him from eating so frequently and insist on preparing healthy meals.
And in my opinion, if she is not strong enough to enforce better eating habits, the child should be looked after by someone who will.
1 comment:
I completely agree, this mother does not deserve to raise her son because she is putting him in the direct line of harm.
If not feeding a child is considered neglect then so should over feeding him.
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