Obese children: the product of neglect?

This article has spawned quite a debate, even on my sister's facebook

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/childhood-obesity-call-parents- lose-custody/story?id=14068280

I am amazed at the stupidity people exhibit when speaking about obesity.  They are so simplistic, cannot evaluate the whole issue, and want to continue blaming the victim.  How can we change this?

I think most people would agree that, in practice, this proposal is completely impractical.  But I still think in theory it's OUTRAGEOUS.  One person said "it's parenting.  end of story."  First of all, that assumes that every child is the same in that what they eat will result in the same outcome.  There are no allowances for metabolism and other issues.  Secondly, this assumes that a parent can control what his/her child eats.  Third, it assumes that every family desires a one size fits all kind of mold.  There are so many issues at work here I can't even think or write straight!  I started my first formal diet when I was NINE!!!!  My parents cared.  Still do.  They are the reason I have this surgery.  They may have wanted it more for me than I did myself.  I can't imagine the pain of seeing your children go through what my sister and I did.  That is incentive enough to have made them "force" us to be thin if it had worked...but that doesn't.  Secondly, I'm worried about the omniscient control a parent would have to exhibit to totally control what their child might eat depending on an age.  I did know parents like that.  They were scary, and almost emotionally abusive to their gymnastics daughters or whatever.  I don't know about you, but school lunch and my grandmas, etc.--if I wanted the food, I could get it despite my parents efforts.  Finally, I know some friends in cultures where you are expected to be at least curvy, if not large.  So my parents didn't make me thin (couldn't).  What if I think it's neglect not to have tons of books in the house?  My parents did and I'm smarter for it!  This is just DUMB DUMB DUMB.  

Oh, and besides...I had/still have acute asthma.  I couldn't just fit the mold.  I was home from school and using the nebulizer every couple of weeks.  This just frustrates the HELL out of me because it shows how ignorant our culture still is.  As my sister responded to the EVIL facebooker determined that he could control his child's weight "well then I guess I can blame your parents for your ignorance."  

Ignorance breeds ignorance.  I read that article and I too was frustrated by the ignorance of many. 

Hi brownblonde.  I want to preface my response with the fact that I am in NO WAY trying to be argumentative.  The following are just MY thoughts. 
This subject is near and dear to me.  I have five children ages one to eleven and have made a conscious effort to make sure they are at a healthy weight.  I was a fat kid, teenager, then adult.  And yes, it was my parents fault.  They fed me fast food.  They bought the sugar cereal.  They gave me soda.  They never taught me the value of good nutritional foods over "junk" foods.  Now don't get me wrong, I don't harbor negative feelings towards them today.  I'm just simply saying their choices laid MY foundation for obesity.  
I refused to do this to my kids.  And don't think for a minute they never eat junk!  LOL!  However, each and every day I make sure they have plenty of fresh fruit and veggies too.  Oh, and I'll add water and exercise to that as well.
Have you ever noticed that overweight parents many times have overweight kids?  I have.  I have many friends who fit this mold.  My personal opinion is this is a form of child abuse.  Life is difficult enough without having obesity to deal with also.  And please hear this...I am in NO WAY saying it's ok to take kids away from their parents.
Yes, I believe for the most part we as parents CAN control what our children eat.  At school...not so much.  At grandma's house...you betcha!  They get lots of treats there but she does know where I draw the line.  After all they're MY kids and it's MY decision what they are allowed to eat.  I have had to educate my MIL/mom over the past 11 years with such things as fruit punch IS NOT the same as 100% juice, pb (unless it's natural) has a lot of crap in it besides peanuts, and so on.
I believe when children are brought up with healthy choices/attitudes they will naturally gravitate toward that kind of stuff.  Sure, they'll eat the crap too but it's balanced out with the good stuff.
Now obviously there are metabolic disorders which are out of our control.  This would account for a small percentage though. 
Thanks for giving us such a thought provoking topic.  Sorry I was so windy!  I could go on and on......
Take care.  Jennifer

 I appreciate your perspective.  And sure, I think to an extent, with certain children, what their parents do can be a contributing factor.  In general, though, I disagree just because it's so dang hard to prove that the parents are causing the weight gain, or even that the FOOD itself is causing the weight gain.  I say this because, even over a year later, -120lbs. later, I am now, more than ever, convinced that I am *different.*  I ate incredibly healthily as a child.  My parents, because of my weight, as early as 5ish banished sweets from the house, never had "real" cokes, and we ate at the table most nights.  When I got older, they began sending me to weigh****chers or diet doctors, ultimately buying both my sister and me surgery.  

Now I'm probably going to say something very counterintuitive here:  such a suggestion as in the article assumes no worse fate for a child than being obese.  I completely and wholeheartedly disagree.  For one, I think their "solution" is a far worse fate--taking children away from a, in my assumption, loving home.  Even at 277lbs. I think there are many more valuable things my parents gave me/instilled in me that I would not give up to be 157lbs., not even if it meant tacking 10 years on my life.  For example, they gave me their love of learning.  To the extent that I almost consider it neglectful to not bring your children up around knowledge and with the full intent of sending them to college.  Now, that may seem a bit extreme, but that is the kind of point I am trying to make.  It is absurd to take one group's priorities and superimpose it on another.  

The thought of child protective services getting involved with obese children absolutely furiates me!  I agree brownblonde that there are soooo many factors at play when a person is overweight that blaming it soley on how you raise your child is ridiculous.  Yes, enviroment plays a key, but I am a strong believer in genetics and how your body processes food. We do not fit into one box. If we did every person that had weight loss surgery would lose at the same rate.  I have 3 children, all raised the same way, eating the same foods, and they are all different.  My older 2 children never had a weight issue, but my youngest does. She is built differently.  Sure, I am mindful of what she eats and I discuss making better choices and I tell her no often to treats because I know she is genetically different than my other two. If one of my older children ate the same way she does they would not be overweight.  yes, I have noticed that overweight parents have overweight kids, but this is not always the case, I have seen very thin parents with overweight kids as well. Again, there are soooo many factors at play.  I agree that there does need to be some intervention in some cases, but to take a child away.... STUPID!!

My Father keep's threating me that they are going to take me away. Im pre op. :(

I'm only 15, turning 16 in July, and I defiantly do not put the blame on my parents for me being overweight. I couldn't believe this article when I was reading it. Yeah it’s my parents that are making and buying the food but it’s me that is making the choice to eat it. This article is ridicules!!!

Well I know living in Canada where our summers are so short, alot of our vegetables and fruit are brought to us from the USA.  You can only imagine the cost of this stuff in the off months which is probably 8 months of the year.  They don't consider if a minimum wage parent is trying to feed children, most parents must turn to starchy foods to be able to afford any type of food.  My child is not big, but I am trying to train them to stay away from carbs because every meal is mostly carbs since they don't like meat!!!  And the only fruit they will eat are bananas, now I make lots more then minimum wage but still I know with all the house bills it is hard to buy lots of this food and can only imagine what most parents are feeling out there.  My children are fortunate because the stuff is there for them to eat, cheese, yogurts, meats every night for supper.  

 I am so glad you touched on this point.  I believe that this campaign is an attack almost entirely directed at those less fortunate.  Those single mothers who are working 2 or 3 jobs just to make ends meet and are able to provide for their children.  

I'm not going to take an extreme position in either direction because its a waste of time. However, I will say this: if parents are blameless on the issue of childhood obesity, then so are restaurants, schools, and government.

A 16 year old is very different from a 6 year old. I know people (several) who feed their kid fast food every day.

Yes foster care is extreme and not likely effective, but other action needs to take place when serious health issues arise.

I watched a man on tv say about his teen daughter who had WLS that she ( the daughter) knows what to do. While his fat tail and his fat wife were hands off.  I also watched this woman ask Dr. Oz, "should I be deprived of cookies because he is overweight?"  First of all, she was overweight and her son was huge. Seriously, she couldn't eat cookies at work away from home?!