A mother has lost custody of her teenage children after a judge ruled that their obesity was a sign of neglect.
The bizarre incident takes place in the UK where a 13-year-old girl and a 17-year-old boy were removed from their family after they failed to lose weight.
According to the reports, the teenagers’ parents were instructed to help the kids lose excess weight after social services became concerned over their wellbeing due to their obesity.
While the family was provided with a gym membership and free Weight Watchers courses, the teenagers reportedly failed to lose any weight, prompting the officials to declare that “their health needs will continue to be neglected and they will continue to put on weight.”
After the parents’ failure to reduce the weight of their children, District Judge Gillian Ellis ruled that the two “thoughtful” and “intelligent” kids have to move in with a foster family to ensure their safety.
“I accept what she says about the difficulty of compelling teenagers to act in a certain way but, clearly, had these habits been encouraged and modelled to the children from an early age, no element of compulsion would now arise,” the judge said as she blasted the mother’s claim that she is unable to control her kids’ eating habits.
“The children had failed to engage consistently in exercise. The mother blamed lockdown but exercise could still be taken in the home or by walking outside. The attendance of the family at Weight Watchers had been inconsistent.”
Meanwhile, the social workers accused the mother of neglecting her children by saying she was offering “poor home conditions” and failed to provide them with guidance on personal care.
“This had resulted in them being bullied at school and in having low self-esteem. The children’s weight had steadily increased even during proceedings,” they insisted.
According to the reports, the family in question has been involved with the social services for more than a decade, whereas the teenagers’ father moved out of their home in 2019.
While the mother insisted she taught her kids about the need to eat healthily, she failed to make them stick to healthier habits and lose weight.
“I am aware that this is a serious, life-changing order, and one with which many people may disagree, taking the view that issues of obesity are matters of choice and lifestyle, with which it is inappropriate for the state to interfere,” the judge added.
“I am satisfied that this order is both necessary and proportionate for both children, in view of the serious and lifelong risks posed to their physical and mental health if nothing is done to change their lifestyle.”
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Replaced!