This week is the beginning of the major holiday crunch time so here is the “OK it’s really getting down to the wire and there is no way that I am going to pull this off” Holiday Stress busters.
Dr. Deb’s Holiday Stress Remedies
1.Make your List and Rip off the Top.
Is it OK for the State to take a child into custody for being obese? Medical neglect is the stated cause but with obesity rates having tripled in the last 30 years, is it fair to single one family out? 44% of kids are overweight or obese by the time they are 8 to 10 yrs old so where are we going to put all these kids? A 10 yr old in Cleveland was taken from his family for weighing 220 or a BMI of 60 and many are questioning if the state has overstepped its boundary. I think the real question is what is the solution for the 44%? Foster care does not seem to be it.
Did the child have a medical condition that caused the State to take him?
The boy had been monitored for 20 months after being hospitalized with sleep apnea. He needed a CPAP machine to help him sleep at night. Obesity does cause hypertension, high cholesterol, diabetes, joint pain, liver disease, and psychological stress in children but he was only known to have sleep apnea. His family did attend a free nutrition class and tried to make lifestyle changes. While he initially lost weight, he gained it back within the year. The State intervened because they felt that it was a last resort and the boy was at high risk of death before the age of 18 from his obesity. There is a court hearing on December 10th that may return him to his home. He has lost 10 lbs since he was placed in foster care in October but neighbors argue the weight loss may be from the stress of separation from his family.
Does removing children from the home for obesity have a proven track record?
