Obesity and family law

Posted in family law on January 1st, 2012 by admin

Family law & child obesity

Modern day life creates always creates new legal points and challenges and those which arise relating to family law often involve a very sad aspect also.

One aspect of life which has become an increasing problem in western society but where the family law implications are not always obvious relates to childhood obesity. This has been a particular issue in the USA but the problem is now getting steadily worse in other western countries.

In family law terms, at what point could a child’s gross obesity become a legal issue such that the child is removed from his or her parents ? We are unaware of any English law precedents on this issue but in the USA there are some precedents.

In Cleveland, Ohio, an 8 year old has been placed in foster care because his mother was not doing enough to control his weight, which was grossly excessive.

For more on this particular story, click here.

What do you think about this issue – should the law intervene in these circumstances and if so, how ?

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