Video: Is childhood obesity child abuse/neglect?
posted at 2:25 pm on July 22, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
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Bad cases make bad law, says the axiom, and this applies here. Obviously, this teenager has a serious problem that his mother ignored. If she gets prosecuted for felony abuse/neglect, does this open the floodgates to government prosecution of a wide swath of American parenthood? Or does this extreme case justify South Carolina’s actions? Watch the clip:
The mother’s story doesn’t add up, in my opinion. Teenagers eat a lot of bad food when they visit friends, but they don’t all put on 400 pounds of fat. Undoubtedly the mother has had a tough time raising the teen alone, but again, we don’t have legions of 555-pound teens coming from latchkey situations. At the very least, the mother failed to respond properly to the morbid weight gain of her son, who’s practically an invalid at that weight — and notice that her attorney doesn’t claim that the son has some unusual medical condition, but that he simply ate his way to 555 pounds.
I’d say this is actionable by the state and that they’re being reasonable in charging her with criminal abuse/neglect. I understand and agree with the “slippery slope” argument to a point, but this is a case so extreme that failure to respond would be neglect in and of itself. Your opinions may differ, though, so take the poll!
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He looks like the HA troll ‘crr6′……….
Janos Hunyadi on July 22, 2009 at 2:54 PM
In the south, fried food, and the population shows it.
right2bright on July 22, 2009 at 2:54 PM
You actually go to Roseland? You are a braver soul than I. BTW, is Pullman Wine & Cheese still on 111th street?
Knucklehead on July 22, 2009 at 2:54 PM
This wholely true if we did not have to pay for his health care with our tax dollars. This is true now, and will be more true if ObamaCare passes.
WashJeff on July 22, 2009 at 2:56 PM
the FDA allows known poisons in our food.
our government can GO TO HELL!
They have NO credibility to tell us what to put in our mouths.
JihadKiller1s1k on July 22, 2009 at 2:56 PM
But, you’re commenting of the ineptitude of obama~that must get your heart pumping and if you are on high blood pressure pills, you’re on the edge of a heart attack for most of the day……gets the blood, uh, pumping.
HornetSting on July 22, 2009 at 2:56 PM
What makes you think it is right out of the gate? The authorities aren’t nuts. You don’t think his pediatrician wasn’t the first one to advise the mother she was killing her kid? The school? CPS? I would bet that they decided to file criminal charges only after the mother was continually uncooperative and sabotaged the efforts they were making to intervene on behalf of the boy’s health.
Blake on July 22, 2009 at 2:56 PM
Interesting case. If the kid’s a teenager, then I’m inclined to say he can make up his own mind. Is giving your kid a thick slice of cake really child abuse? How can you prove neglect against a mother who FED HER KID?
hawksruleva on July 22, 2009 at 2:56 PM
You have been listening to Barney Frank?
right2bright on July 22, 2009 at 2:57 PM
JE Dyer at 2:51
I hate to suggest it, but maybe the kid wants to die at an early age. Maybe he’d just as soon live a happy but short life – thinking that food and a computer game can keep him happy – and then die of a heart attack before he has to experience any more of the world’s misery.
Come to think of it, isn’t that what Obama’s healthcare is supposed to do – get sick people to just give up and die already so we don’t have to waste money on their worthless lives?
To actually believe in a life that’s worth living can be an act of huge courage and defiance of everything else going on around you. Seems like the gravity of these days pushes down hard against optimism.
justincase on July 22, 2009 at 2:57 PM
Heh.
HornetSting on July 22, 2009 at 2:58 PM
I have not noticed it. Is\was it on Halsted?
79th St. is our other location. 116th St. is a step up.
WashJeff on July 22, 2009 at 2:58 PM
Why is it that so many people “at the POVERTY level” are obese? I’ve been all over the world, and I’ve seen POVERTY. Those people look like walking skeletons.
I think this country needs to revisit the definition of “POVERTY”, especially since so many entitlement programs hinge on that definition. Of course this will not happen. Worthless politicians like Barney Frank owe their power to those ‘impoverished’.
GarandFan on July 22, 2009 at 2:58 PM
Ok, sure. But where do you draw the line, if you invite the government to supervise the caloric intake of children? You’re giving the government yet another tool to use against people they don’t like. What does the kid have to say about the situation?
hawksruleva on July 22, 2009 at 2:59 PM
This discussion makes me want to eat a big piece of cake
yellow cake with choco frosting
and a big ice cold glass of milk
fck yea
blatantblue on July 22, 2009 at 2:59 PM
Healthy food is more expensive.
justincase on July 22, 2009 at 2:59 PM
In this case? Obviously. It takes some long-term hard work to stuff that many calories into somebody.
Of course, the mother is just about equally obese.
More importantly, I’d just like to say thank you for not posting another picture of Obama.
Professor Blather on July 22, 2009 at 3:00 PM
It keeps me from screaming in my house and from pulling my hair out. And I do NOT need to speed up the hair loss process!!!
WashJeff on July 22, 2009 at 3:00 PM
My coworker was complaining about being sore from playing Wii tennis…
ladyingray on July 22, 2009 at 3:00 PM
As some of my buddies in the USMC would say: “Heinous!”
Rightwingguy on July 22, 2009 at 3:00 PM
Well, something a lot less than 555 lbs is a good start. You and others are acting like the kid is just fat. He’s not. He’s morbidly obese and it will kill him a lot sooner than later. And his life has to be miserable.
Blake on July 22, 2009 at 3:01 PM
Yeah…did see what price Arugula is up to?
WashJeff on July 22, 2009 at 3:01 PM
Again, as a juror, could you differentiate between this case, and a state intrusion into the way you feed your normal kid?
Ragspierre on July 22, 2009 at 3:01 PM
More expensive than 12 loaves of bread, 35 bags of cheetos, and 8 pizzas a day?
faraway on July 22, 2009 at 3:01 PM
I’ll raise you a bag of Nacho Cheese Doritos, French Onion Dip, and a icy Big Red….
HornetSting on July 22, 2009 at 3:01 PM
Oh man. I’m gonna have to P.T. that weight off for him.
Rightwingguy on July 22, 2009 at 3:02 PM
If you feel that way, then the state is responsible for not taking the kid away when he hit 300 pounds, which the school probably noticed …
How do you get to a situation where the mother is criminally liable but the state wasn’t responsible to remove the child earlier?
progressoverpeace on July 22, 2009 at 3:02 PM
No, it isn’t. It is cheaper.
Ragspierre on July 22, 2009 at 3:02 PM
Equals one slice of Red Velvet cake. Oh my god, that stuff will give yo type II “Diabetus” just by looking at it.
Rightwingguy on July 22, 2009 at 3:03 PM
You don’t need healthy food
smaller portions and no snacking
boom
you lose weight
blatantblue on July 22, 2009 at 3:03 PM
It was about 3 blocks west of Front Street/the Illinois Central station, kitty corner from the old 5th district police station. They had outstanding sausage and beef.
Knucklehead on July 22, 2009 at 3:03 PM
Fresh fruit, veggies, and whole grain bread and plain old tap water is a lot cheaper than ding dongs, chips, and soda!
HornetSting on July 22, 2009 at 3:03 PM
+1000 nuff said!
Caper29 on July 22, 2009 at 3:03 PM
He was on the football team then.
faraway on July 22, 2009 at 3:03 PM
I agree. Bark is cheaper than most foods.
Rightwingguy on July 22, 2009 at 3:03 PM
It is the parent’s fault. The child made a bad choice, but the parent is responsible for the child, and she should help him make better choices.
VibrioCocci on July 22, 2009 at 3:03 PM
I understand that there are reasons given for their obesity and overweight rates, but what I do not understand is why Obama has not been up front with them? He speaks about the black experience as if it is some mystical thing, the obesity rate for black women is real and it has disasterous outcomes. When he speaks of this magical healthcare coverage, he is just fooling them. The magical healthcare impact comes from losing weight, stopping smoking and other unhealthy habits, not from having healthcare coverage per se. Why won’t he be upfront. The coverage is not necessarily what makes you healthy – it is the lifestyle. The closest he has ever come to revealing the truth is when Michelle informed Americans that Barack was going to make them “work”. He is not honest with any of us.
bloggless on July 22, 2009 at 3:04 PM
… but arresting the parents?
No.
VibrioCocci on July 22, 2009 at 3:04 PM
With a glass of milk. Mmmmmmm.
HornetSting on July 22, 2009 at 3:04 PM
Better yet, BB: ACTUALLY DO SOME FREAKING EXERCISE!
Run, do push-ups, squats, ANYTHING!
Rightwingguy on July 22, 2009 at 3:05 PM
Have not been there. FOr obvious reasons, I am in and out with the most direct route to I-57.
WashJeff on July 22, 2009 at 3:05 PM
It is called “due process”…which is what they are engaged in now.
Ragspierre on July 22, 2009 at 3:05 PM
Chocolate milk
Rightwingguy on July 22, 2009 at 3:05 PM
Heh. And now the school wants him to be their hockey goalie.
progressoverpeace on July 22, 2009 at 3:05 PM
I’m craving gravy and biscuits, with bacon. Plenty of bacon…
faraway on July 22, 2009 at 3:05 PM
Call Obamacare! We need some liposuction STAT!
Rightwingguy on July 22, 2009 at 3:06 PM
I’m all for putting the makers of fast food commercials in jail. If I see one more stupid looking, shithead – slamming fast food down his enormous pie-hole – commercial, I’m gonna go ballistic.
OhEssYouCowboys on July 22, 2009 at 3:06 PM
He hasn’t been “upfront” since he was elected to any public office, and look how far he made it.
Why would he start now?
VibrioCocci on July 22, 2009 at 3:06 PM
Equals one slice of Red Velvet cake. Oh my god, that stuff will give yo type II “Diabetus” just by looking at it.
Rightwingguy on July 22, 2009 at 3:03 PM
With a glass of milk. Mmmmmmm.
HornetSting on July 22, 2009 at 3:04 PM
What is wrong with you people?
There is no other kind of cake but chocolate…with chocolate frosting!!
Sheesh.
ladyingray on July 22, 2009 at 3:06 PM
Among many other reasons that young man is fat, I offer four words: High Fructose Corn Syrup
When the food industry started replacing real sugar with HFCS, the pounds starting piling on Americans.
Ever try Mexican or Kosher Coke that has sugar instead of HFCS? Ah, refreshing. And better for you than the American HFCS version!
Brat on July 22, 2009 at 3:06 PM
BB is young, Rightwing. He can eat anything and burn it off…..and yes, exercise is the only way to lose weight and keep it off…..
HornetSting on July 22, 2009 at 3:07 PM
AP is going to be blamed for too many TIWYF postings!
WashJeff on July 22, 2009 at 3:07 PM
But a kid doesn’t get to over 500 pounds in a week. Obesity is a slow process. Everyone saw this, obviously. Only now, all of a sudden, it is criminal to some.
progressoverpeace on July 22, 2009 at 3:07 PM
Where can you buy Kosher Coke?
Rightwingguy on July 22, 2009 at 3:07 PM
HornetSting on July 22, 2009 at 3:07 PM
This young lad needs some counseling, let’s send Rep. Nadler.
NoDonkey on July 22, 2009 at 3:07 PM
Slippery slope indeed.
In New York City, there’s bans on just about every trans-fat item known to mankind.
Where does it end?
Oh, you didn’t turn the baby on it’s side when you put it to bed according to AMA.
Hard to believe Ed that you’re for some penalty here.
HarryStar on July 22, 2009 at 3:07 PM
Walk it off.
reaganaut on July 22, 2009 at 3:08 PM
Run, do push-ups, squats, ANYTHING!
Rightwingguy on July 22, 2009 at 3:05 PM
I lost forty pounds and most of it was diet for me
in high school I’d down a whole subway footlong, chips and a big coke
and still be rearin and ready for more
I tried that last week and almost threw up
blatantblue on July 22, 2009 at 3:08 PM
If I looked like that, I would dress like Fat Albert
CMonster on July 22, 2009 at 3:09 PM
You sound like my husband, but I got him hooked on my lemon cupcakes with vanilla sugar frosting.
HornetSting on July 22, 2009 at 3:09 PM
Granted, and many posters have pointed out…and I can assure you…that there was a long process leading up to this point.
This is not a thing CPS would do lightly, and if they tried, they would get slapped down for it.
Ragspierre on July 22, 2009 at 3:09 PM
Among many other reasons that young man is fat, I offer four words: High Fructose Corn Syrup
I don’t think anyone has ever proved that. Didn’t HFCS come about the same time as video game systems, TV shows, daycare and welfare?
bloggless on July 22, 2009 at 3:09 PM
I think I’ll stick to my daily run. It only requires the body to convert chemical energy into mechanical energy. You all with your Wii’s need electrical energy also. With Crap and Tax you won’t have enough electrical energy to run the Wii anymore. (Self disclosure: if a Wii is what it takes to get someone exercising then I am all for it, electrical use be damned)
chemman on July 22, 2009 at 3:09 PM
Much of the problem has to do with driving 1 mile to a shopping center instead of walking and when you get there, eating 3 huge slices of pizza dripping with fat.Then at night, more junk food in front of the television set.
Because I’m a libertarian I believe in the right to get fat without government interference but I also believe in the right not to pay for other people’s poor choices. Thus when a fool eats himself into a condition which requires medical attention, that person should be responsible to pay his own way out of the mess.
The concept of the government holding a parent criminally responsible for overfeeding children is ludicrous.Next we will have Weight Police equipped with portable scales arresting anyone who doesn’t conform “to the norm”.
MaiDee on July 22, 2009 at 3:09 PM
You need an option that says bad parenting. Look she has no time to deal with that if she’s working like 15 hour days, so she should have thrown him on a diet but what would you want her to do? If she really is working all the damn time then she can’t supervise a diet unless she goes on welfare or something.
It’s just a crappy situation. And it once again shows why you need a mother and father in a stable household.
John_Locke on July 22, 2009 at 3:09 PM
For our ROTC unit we run a “Mexican” food stand at the Illinois home football games. There’s you assortment of nasty treats: Quesadillas, Cherros (cardboard with sugar on top), soda, etc. Well one mid got the bright idea of taking a quesadilla and DEEP frying it and putting nacho cheese on top. I near about had a heart attack looking at that stuff. Apparently it tasted good….
Rightwingguy on July 22, 2009 at 3:10 PM
blantantblue on July 22, 2009 at 3:03 PM
Darn, so does that mean I can’t finish my half gallon of chocolate chip ice cream?
yoda on July 22, 2009 at 3:10 PM
How about a question all conservatives should be able to agree on: where did his mother get the money to feed him?
Whether he was eating 100% Cheesy-Poofs or organic tofu, it cost some serious bucks to feed that kid. I’d like to know where it came from.
How ironic if its all welfare money …
… and if it is, can’t the government be sued alongside the mother? After all, she may be abusing the kid, but she couldn’t do it without her funding …?
Professor Blather on July 22, 2009 at 3:10 PM
I went here when I was in Vienna a couple weeks ago.
The most famous chocolate cake in the world
Eat your hearts out girls……
Knucklehead on July 22, 2009 at 3:10 PM
I almost threw up reading about it…
ladyingray on July 22, 2009 at 3:10 PM
The only time it’s important is to transfer wealth (child support) or to get federal benefits by getting the man out of the house.
Make no mistake about it – the template for all the Obamanations being shoved up our collectiiive a$$ is the federal child support program. It’s been through its beta testing and is ready for prime time release.
They came for the fathers and most said deadbeat dad deserves what he gets. Now they’re coming for all of you.
Enjoy the apocalypse.
platypus on July 22, 2009 at 3:10 PM
I blame liberals. If she could whip him, he wouldn’t be fat.
faraway on July 22, 2009 at 3:11 PM
I don’t buy that he wasn’t eating much at home. You don’t weigh 555 pounds by eating extra lunches at school. Besides, where did he get the $$ for extra lunches? The free lunch program doesn’t allow for that and supposedly his mother couldn’t afford it.
There is a lot of food being consumed by this child all day long and no exercise is taking place. If a true food diary was given his caloric intake would be unbelievable.
Having said that, I don’t want the mother to go to jail. I don’t believe she doesn’t love her child. Hopefully this will be a big enough wake up call for them both to realize that they need to take advantage of the existing benefits of their local health department. They will have someone there who can help guide him with a weight loss and exercise program. I certainly don’t want the government in our lives any more than they already are.
conservativemama on July 22, 2009 at 3:11 PM
Did he eat Meagham McCain?
omnipotent on July 22, 2009 at 3:11 PM
I developed an exercise addiction/bulimia at 16 and by the time I was 22 my immune system was so compromised that I came down with shingles.
My parents thought I was going through a “phase”.
I finally got it under control about a year and a half ago…and I’ll be 39 in a few months.
Should they have been arrested?
No.
In the 1980’s eating disorders were an unknown-and even now those with them tend to be secretive or or seem like passionate health nuts.
This young man’s problem is obvious.
His mother was told to get tests done that would rule out a medical reason-like thyroid problems-for his condition.
She refused.
My husband is on the obese side-he’s trying to lose weight-and he’s half this boy’s size-and he’s 50.
That boy will probably die very young if things continue as they are.
She had her chance.
The state this time was right.
Btw-My son is 15-and on the slim side.
Unlike me when I was in high school-he eats everything.
annoyinglittletwerp on July 22, 2009 at 3:12 PM
This mother needs a knock on her door from a community organizer — not the cops.
I remember a story not too long ago about the military recruiter who was working with overweight teens to help and train them in slimming down so they could join the military. It would be nice to see a recruiter or someone else volunteer to be involved with this child to teach discipline (not necessarily join the military). Calling a military vet…
FeFe on July 22, 2009 at 3:12 PM
Like someone else said, I eat fast food most of the time, but I don’t eat enough to gain 400 pounds. From 18 to 26 I’ve gained about 35 – 40 pounds and even I know that I need to start exercising more and/or start cooking instead of eating out all the time.
MobileVideoEngineer on July 22, 2009 at 3:12 PM
Hey hey hey!
LevStrauss on July 22, 2009 at 3:12 PM
I need to pay for this tubby’s healthcare…STAT!
Cuffy Meigs on July 22, 2009 at 3:12 PM
My point is that, at worst, you take the kid away. But to hold the mother criminally liable is insane.
progressoverpeace on July 22, 2009 at 3:13 PM
I can usually find it at a certain Kroger in the Atlanta area during Passover.
“Mexican” Coke is available in some Costco stores and online.
Brat on July 22, 2009 at 3:13 PM
annoyinglittletwerp on July 22, 2009 at 3:12 PM
I’m glad you’re doing better. I had a coworker whose daughter did the same thing when she was a teenager…it was pretty scary.
ladyingray on July 22, 2009 at 3:13 PM
Hotel Sacher Wien is the best
faraway on July 22, 2009 at 3:14 PM
Thanks.
Rightwingguy on July 22, 2009 at 3:14 PM
In some jurisdictions, you have to have a criminal charge to permit taking the kid.
Ragspierre on July 22, 2009 at 3:14 PM
Deregulate bullying laws if there are any. These situations are where kids making fun of each other is productive.
LevStrauss on July 22, 2009 at 3:15 PM
Yep. It’s all part of the Vast Fat Ass Conspiracy.
Brat on July 22, 2009 at 3:15 PM
+infinity!
HornetSting on July 22, 2009 at 3:15 PM
Calling a military vet…
FeFe on July 22, 2009 at 3:12 PM
Gunnery Sergeant Hartman: Are you allowed to eat jelly doughnuts, Private Pyle?
Private Gomer Pyle: Sir, no, sir!
Gunnery Sergeant Hartman: And why not, Private Pyle?
Private Gomer Pyle: Sir, because I’m too heavy, sir!
Gunnery Sergeant Hartman: Because you are a disgusting fat body, Private Pyle!
NoDonkey on July 22, 2009 at 3:15 PM
Well, in that case I would say the kid stays. Unless she was force feeding the kid, it isn’t criminal.
progressoverpeace on July 22, 2009 at 3:16 PM
So we arrest the parents of fat kids.
Are we also going to arrest the parents of Anorexics?
pseudonominus on July 22, 2009 at 2:27 PM
How about the parents of pregnant teenagers? Should they be arrested too? As a parent of 2 teenage boys, you cannot always control what they do when they leave the house. The only thing you can do as a parent is teach them right from wrong, morals, and personal repsonsibility. After that you hope and pray for the best. I seriously doubt that this child woke up one morning took one look at himself and said “WTF”. This doesn’t happen overnight.
Reguardless of how expensive healthy food is, no one says that when you go to the market you need to load up on chips, soda, little debbie cakes, and junk. I have been to WalMart and seen the “heavy weights” and how they shop. What kills me the most is to see their carts full of frozen processed food, chips, and other junk but just beacuse they bought a case of Diet Coke that somehow cancels out all the crap they just inhaled.
I understand that there are some people with legit weight problems, however, twinkies just don’t jump into your mouth. You put it there.
milwife88 on July 22, 2009 at 3:16 PM
If the government really wanted to reduce health costs, it would ban high fructose corn syrup and similar sweeteners.
huckleberryfriend on July 22, 2009 at 3:17 PM
What does the law say?
Ragspierre on July 22, 2009 at 3:17 PM
I stick with iced tea. I wouldn’t eat ANYTHING from Mexico.
HornetSting on July 22, 2009 at 3:18 PM
If there’s a law that says that having a morbidly obese kid is a crime, then I’m out of this country.
progressoverpeace on July 22, 2009 at 3:18 PM
I can get behind that.
myrenovations on July 22, 2009 at 3:18 PM
Ed would have us arrest:
- Rush
- Jackie Gleason
- Aretha Franklin
- Meatloaf
- Babe Ruth
- and finally (gasp!) Santa Claus
faraway on July 22, 2009 at 3:19 PM
The govt can have my Karo syrup after it pries it from my cold, dead, sticky hands.
Cuffy Meigs on July 22, 2009 at 3:19 PM
This is every bit as much a case of child abuse/neglect as those [thankfully rare] cases where ‘parents’ let their children starve in filthy conditions.
This kid is not competent to control his life, he is dependent on his mother to guide him. This has progressed way beyond the point where legal intervention is required.
This ‘mother’ needs to do hard time for the negligent damage she’s done.
LimeyGeek on July 22, 2009 at 3:19 PM
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