When all else failed, the courts moved to remove the child from the home. But at the last moment, decided to give the mother one last chance.

 

We’d all agree that removing a child from his parent’s care is the absolute last resort. First we’d intervene. First we’d provide nutrition guidance and medical attention. First we’d look for other family members to step in and provide care for the child. And when all else failed, we’d look to other options from the state.

 

Why? Because an obese child is an abused child. It may not be as sensational as other forms of abuse. The process may even be pleasurable to the child. But the outcome is the same: a child permanently altered metabolically, a child whose health is jeopardized.

 

Connor McCreaddie’s future looks grim. He has diabetes, heart disease and possible cancer to look forward to. This, not counting the social and emotional toll. The intervention came at least 100 pounds too late.

 

We’re socialized to say nothing when our children’s classmates, playmates and soccer-mates are overweight. It’s impolite and unwelcome. However, waiting until a child is 3 to 4 times the size he should be, makes the entire community culpable in the abuse. If this same child had been starving, the authorities would have been called in markedly sooner.

 

NAAO urges all adults to make the call. If you suspect a child is receiving care that jeopardizes his health in any way--including food abuse--please contact the school guidance counselor or contact social services directly. Please do not hesitate until the child has little chance for recovery. Once a person is overweight, he has about a 5% chance of losing that weight and keeping it off. Remember, an adult who’s only 10-20 pounds overweight materially increases his chances for premature death. Imagine the magnitude of damage on a child’s body when he’s more than 120 pounds overweight.

 

View: NAAO’s MeMe Roth on CNN’s “Now with Paula Zahn”