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| Child obesity 'a form of neglect' | Child obesity 'a form of neglect' |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Obesity has been a factor in at least 20 child protection cases in the last year, the BBC has learned. | Obesity has been a factor in at least 20 child protection cases in the last year, the BBC has learned. |
| Some doctors now believe in extreme cases overfeeding a young child should be seen as a form of abuse or neglect. | Some doctors now believe in extreme cases overfeeding a young child should be seen as a form of abuse or neglect. |
| The BBC contacted almost 50 consultant paediatricians around the UK to ask if they believe childhood obesity can ever be a child protection issue. | The BBC contacted almost 50 consultant paediatricians around the UK to ask if they believe childhood obesity can ever be a child protection issue. |
| The British Medical Association is due to debate a motion on this issue at its annual conference at the end of June. | The British Medical Association is due to debate a motion on this issue at its annual conference at the end of June. |
| Earlier this year the case of one obese child hit the headlines when social workers became involved. | Earlier this year the case of one obese child hit the headlines when social workers became involved. |
| Dr Tabitha Randell, a consultant paediatrician from Nottingham, is one doctor who believes some parents are killing their children with kindness. | Dr Tabitha Randell, a consultant paediatrician from Nottingham, is one doctor who believes some parents are killing their children with kindness. |
| In her clinic it has become more common to see children entering puberty before the age of 10 because of their obesity. Obesity is a public health problem, not a child protection issue Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health | In her clinic it has become more common to see children entering puberty before the age of 10 because of their obesity. Obesity is a public health problem, not a child protection issue Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health |
| In one extreme case Dr Randell saw a child aged two and a half who weighed more than four stone (25.4 kg). | In one extreme case Dr Randell saw a child aged two and a half who weighed more than four stone (25.4 kg). |
| "They said she was big-boned and they were too. I think the perception of parents is a very real problem. | |
| "If you see every other child in the playground with their belly hanging over their trousers you think that's normal." | "If you see every other child in the playground with their belly hanging over their trousers you think that's normal." |
| Some health professionals think it is unhelpful to see childhood obesity as potential neglect. | Some health professionals think it is unhelpful to see childhood obesity as potential neglect. |
| The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health said: "Obesity is a public health problem, not a child protection issue. | The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health said: "Obesity is a public health problem, not a child protection issue. |
| "There may be a few families that give cause for concern where there are other matters of neglect or emotional harm and this is where a paediatrician might have discussions with social services." | "There may be a few families that give cause for concern where there are other matters of neglect or emotional harm and this is where a paediatrician might have discussions with social services." |
| Diet advice | Diet advice |
| Some parents feel they face an uphill struggle to convince their children to eat healthily in a society where there are many high fat choices on offer. | Some parents feel they face an uphill struggle to convince their children to eat healthily in a society where there are many high fat choices on offer. |
| At the children's centre in the deprived Meadows area of Nottingham parents are offered support to improve their children's diet. | At the children's centre in the deprived Meadows area of Nottingham parents are offered support to improve their children's diet. |
| I've seen a 10-year-old who could only walk a few yards with a walking stick Doctor's quote | I've seen a 10-year-old who could only walk a few yards with a walking stick Doctor's quote |
| A group of mothers has just signed up for a six-week course, learning how to prepare healthy food from scratch. | A group of mothers has just signed up for a six-week course, learning how to prepare healthy food from scratch. |
| The mothers say it is too easy to blame parents. | The mothers say it is too easy to blame parents. |
| Vikki Sansom, who has two young children, said: "I think there is a big difference between not feeding and overfeeding. | Vikki Sansom, who has two young children, said: "I think there is a big difference between not feeding and overfeeding. |
| "It's really hard for parents and it's wrong to say that's neglect". | |
| But at the end of June the BMA will be asked to consider the motion: "The government should consider childhood obesity in under-12s as neglect by the parents and encourage legal protection for the child and action against those parents." | |
| Doctors' concern | Doctors' concern |
| Dr Matt Capehorn is the Rotherham GP who put forward the motion as a result of his own experience of running an obesity clinic. | Dr Matt Capehorn is the Rotherham GP who put forward the motion as a result of his own experience of running an obesity clinic. |
| He told the BBC: "My colleagues and I were concerned because we noticed a discrepancy in the way society, the medical profession and the courts treat an obese child compared with a malnourished child. | He told the BBC: "My colleagues and I were concerned because we noticed a discrepancy in the way society, the medical profession and the courts treat an obese child compared with a malnourished child. |
| "There is outrage if a child is skin and bone but it only happens in extreme cases with obese children." | "There is outrage if a child is skin and bone but it only happens in extreme cases with obese children." |
| Doctors speaking anonymously to the BBC said overfeeding a child should be considered neglect in extreme cases: | Doctors speaking anonymously to the BBC said overfeeding a child should be considered neglect in extreme cases: |
| "We're very lily-livered about this as a society. I have seen an obese child taken away from parents return to a normal body weight in a few months" | |
| "I've seen a 10-year-old who could only walk a few yards with a walking stick. Her diet of chips and high fat food could firmly be laid at the parents' door. I believe they were killing her slowly" | |
| "Seeing a 10-year-old with diabetes and high blood pressure. He is at risk of heart disease in his 20s - the family will not make changes" | |
| "One 12-year-old boy came into hospital to be put on a diet. His family were caught smuggling in 1lb bars of chocolate for him" |