Why isn't child obesity classed as neglect?

[dinklu]

(Setting aside medical conditions that may contribute to weight gain.)

If a child is severely underweight due to a lack of proper nutrition, it is often seen as neglect. But when a child is significantly overweight due to consistently poor diet and lack of exercise, it is not typically viewed in the same way. Why is that?

Is it because there aren't enough resources or support for parents? Or is it simply not recognised as a form of neglect in the same way malnutrition is? Curious to hear other perspectives.

What about the parents who buy it!? No one is forcing them!

Define forcing ?

Parents have limited time and money
Many are so stressed keeping a roof over their heads that they will power and decision making skills are severely depleted ( because that's being human )
They are being constantly manipulated by the advertising and packaging which works -

Is manipulating the same as forcing - when does it stop being one and start being the other

It's utterly stupid to think that all human operate in a vacuum and all decisions are totally rational.

Apples, carrots, bananas and yogurts are far cheaper than crisps, chocolate and cake bars.
The issue isn't cost, it's children eating in the same way their parents do, and the parents not caring enough to change their own habits. I've never seen healthy sized adults with properly obese children, it's always obese adults and obese children as they're copying the parents habits and being given the same junk.

My niece is overweight. I wouldn't say she is neglected, or has a bad diet, but has always loved food. She was only slightly overweight, then when she was 11 she gave up gymnastics and swimming, and the weight has piled on in last twelve months. My SIL is hoping it's just puberty, and hasn't wanted to tackle it with her in case it creates an eating disorder.

Snacks maybe yes but I’d say meals no. a mini pizza is around 60p that’s about as cheap as a meal gets. Same with frozen chips etc.

But I agree with you on the parents, I find it really sad to see obese kids following their obese parents round the supermarket. They have no idea what habits their learning and the impact on their lives

Nobody is genetically obese, yes some ppl burn fat/calories faster than others but if you are aware then you address it, the earlier you do the more effective it will be. (obviously not referring to children with medical issues)

Because being overweight isn't as simple as people make out.

I've been overweight my whole life. I walked over a mile to school every day, throughout primary and secondary. I had good, home-cooked meals (we couldn't affort pre-made stuff even if we wanted to), I spent summers on my bike or playing in the woods and fields (Gen-X - this was possible then)

But I've always been obese. My sisters weren't - they had the same upbringing.

Since going on the jabs, I've discovered that I think there's just something 'wrong' with me - because suddenly, I feel full, my body tells me when to stop eating. Losing weight is easy because of that.

What were my parents supposed to do? They fed me the same as my siblings, there were no treats or desserts most days (sweets/dessert on a Sunday only), we had to ask for snacks and were told no more than yes. No neglect, still an obese child.

Are overweight kids really that common now? I see a lot more scrawny looking kids these days.

A mini pizza isn't going to make a child obese, that wouldn't even stop mine feeling hungry. That coupled with loads of snacks to fill them up would, but that would cost more than making something like cheap but filling like bolognese or microwaving jacket potatoes and beans or tuna.

This isn’t relevant. Hungry kids can stuff their faces on healthy food and not end up with obesity. It’s eating the wrong food and not moving enough that’s the problem. It is entirely avoidable.

I don't disagree OP.
Likewise rotten teeth.
I would also disagree about there being complex reasons for people being overweight. People are overweight because food is super delicious. I bet if food tasted terrible nobody would be overweight. Healthy food is as cheap, if not cheaper than unhealthy food, unhealthy food tastes so much better to most people though. So I think the argument that people can't afford to eat healthy is nonsense. It's just that a Twix tastes better than an apple.
With regard cooking skills, it's easy to learn how to cook, you don't even need to read books you can just watch YouTube videos that go really slowly step by step. People don't cook because they don't want to. I don't know why this is seen as some sort of moral failing either, it's not. I bet the Queen never did any cooking. Admittedly time is a pressure as well and ready meals are a lot quicker.

Probably the same reasons that an adult can be hospitalised/ sectioned for eating so little that they are very underweight/ malnourished but overeating and obesity are not treated the same way.

This is the most MN thread I've seen in weeks.

Really interesting to catch up on! Thank you.

I also find that with state senior school, the food in the canteen is awful? So, if parents aren't educated and thus aren't educating their children, of course they will choose chips and pizza everyday at school! What kid wouldn't?

I don't understand how they allow such unhealthy food to be eaten everyday at school to be honest.

This is coming from a step mum to an overweight child, where take outs are a normal thing and not classed as a treat anymore, McDonald's with friends every other day, chocolate and crisps at home to be eaten when you want etc.

I don't understand why as a parent you'd allow your child to become so overweight- I'm sorry but that is what I think.

FOOD THAT IS AFFORDABLE IS SHIT FOR YOU

@dovetail22uk but... no it's not.

We're pretty tight on funds, with 4DC & 2 adults, I feed us all 80% whole foods at Aldi for £130 a week. Of course we have junk but small moderation, not the overwhelming diet majority!

Apples cost the same as crisps.
Water is essentially free.
Fruit and veg is as cheap as chocolate.

It's not a money thing.

This is coming from a step mum to an overweight child, where take outs are a normal thing and not classed as a treat anymore, McDonald's with friends every other day, chocolate and crisps at home to be eaten when you want etc.

And are all the kids overweight? Or just your step-child? Could it be that it's not just what goes in, but also the child themselves? If a child can have all of that available and still be thin, does that make it fine? Or is this just yet another excuse to have a go at fat kids and poor people?

I don't understand why as a parent you'd allow your child to become so overweight- I'm sorry but that is what I think.

My parents didn't 'allow' me. It was just how I was, on the exact same diet as my siblings. Less when I went to secondary school and would skip lunch because I didn't want to be fat - I honestly have no idea how I was overweight - except that even now, if I go over 1200 cals a day I gain - it's just how my metabolism is, super-efficient, and with no fullness indicator. I'm convinced it's a medical issue.

I think another factor is that hunger is now seen as some sort of medical emergency that needs to be treated immediately.

It a combination of money and stress and knowledge and skills ( cooking for example )

Stress is the big one many people forget about

Brains have a limit
If they are under lots of stress then they don't always make good choices - it's standard well known behaviour
And the type of stress matters - the stress of being at the bottom of the heap is different from the stress of a CEO

Expecting everyone to be able to do something because you can - well I can do differential equations and am pretty hot when it comes to physics but I understand that not everyone can , that sone can with a huge amount of effort and sone never will

So it is with diet -

Given two thirds of adults are overweight, good luck with finding slim and fit foster parents.

I think the whole processed foods are cheaper thing is a terrible argument.

most people in the UK have access to cheap fruit and veg.

Is it not laziness and a lack of education then?

Not always no, but nice to see you reveal your motivation

I'm far from lazy, and I have read and absorbed so much bloody nutritional advice over my 40-odd years that I could talk circles around a nutritionist (seen a few of them too).

Sure, sometimes it's laziness, sometimes it's neglect, sometimes it's metabolism or illness or special needs.

It's lazy to think that it's always laziness.

Absolutely agree.

Parents feeding junk food or processed foods every night can do better.

I think lack of education comes into it.

but I think the main issue is that parents in this country are exhausted. If you’re low income you’re probably stressed trying to balance all the plates, Keeping a roof over your children’s heads etc. I can see how you’d be tempted just to chuck UPF in the microwave every night - easy you barely have to think.