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UK Weighs Taking Fat Kids From Parents

Dangerously chubby children may end up in social service system

By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff

Posted Aug 16, 2008 5:47 AM CDT
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(Newser) – Local government leaders in Britain warn that they may need to take drastic action to protect the health of dangerously overweight children—including taking them away from their parents, the Independent reports. They predict that a million British children will be clinically obese within four years, and that the social service system may have to take charge of caring for children in the worst cases.

"Councils are increasingly having to consider taking action where parents are putting children's health in real danger," said a public health spokesman. "Councils would step in to deal with an undernourished or neglected child, so should a case with a morbidly obese child be different?"

British authorities predict that they will have to intervene more and more to deal with dangerously overweight children, and that the fattest ones may need to be removed from their homes.
British authorities predict that they will have to intervene more and more to deal with dangerously overweight children, and that the fattest ones may need to be removed from their homes.   (Getty Images (by Event))
Local council leaders in Britain warn that child obesity has reached epidemic proportions.
Local council leaders in Britain warn that child obesity has reached epidemic proportions.   (Getty Images)
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Fat kids 'should be taken from parents'
Times (UK)

Childhood clumsiness linked to adult obesity
Washington Post

Child obesity troubles Britain, France
AFP

Parents to be warned on overweight kids
Time

 
obesity • parenting • childhood obesity • United Kingdom • obesity epidemic • children • child neglect • Britain

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