School social worker discusses child obesity issue

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 17 percent of children in the U.S. are obese. This puts them at greater risk to develop joint problems, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, low self-esteem and fatty liver disease.

Recently, an op-ed story in the American Medical Association had Georgia parents furious, as it suggested that adults who have obese children should have their kids taken away from them, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

In the article, Dr. David Ludwig said that removing children from these homes is not done to blame parents. However, he believes that if adults cannot ensure that their kids are healthy, it may be in their best interest to be put in another home.

Benjamin Downs, a school social worker and father, told the news outlet that he was shocked to hear such a drastic proposal. However, he said that as a professional who works with children, he can understand why adults are concerned with the growing number of obese youths.

"It's not unusual for teachers to express concern about students' health issues related to their weight, and obesity is often at the center of bullying in schools and many students' emotional issues," Downs said.  

POSTED BY: ec_admin - July 15th, 2011 at 03:51pm ( 0 )