What's this about gastric bypasses being performed on 2yos to stop obesity? Surely not true?

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Someone at work tells me this was on GMTV this morning, someone tell me it's not true.

sorry if there's already a thread...

Absolutely disgraceful if true (although don't know whether I'd trust GMTV "News" to report that night turns into day ).

I really think that there has to be a case for removing a child into care and introducting a programme of eductaion for them and the parents rather than perform such a drastic operation on them. If things are really that bad, it should be treated like abuse, with regular visits from social services when child is allowed back home.

Surely severe problems at this age have to be Prader-Willi symptom or whatever it's called?

I think Social Services are overstretched enough trying to find appropriate foster care for children suffering from genuine abuse to take chldren who are fed too much (or not getting enough exercise).

I agree that some parents need re-educating, but to equate it with abuse oversteps the mark, imo.

Don't agree with operating on children for this at all (although not seen anything about it).

You'd rather they were fat then? Surely that's not good.

Surgery strikes me as being a bit desperate - how about limiting their food intake? Seems a bit obvious. What are Health Visitors for? (genuine question since mine was as good as useless - telling me to give my baby solid food at about 4 weeks!)

I am fed up with the press going on about childhood obesity - some of the 50 somethings who are banging on about it, ought to look at their own girth and ask themselves if they would submit to surgery. Children can't object and that is what I find distasteful about it.

I imagine if this does happen, it's due to a serious medical problem as NQC mentioned. Not just because some child's parents rely on Maccy D's.

Unknown, there have been a few cases where SS have removed or have threatened to remove children from their families over obesity.

can't find any reference to this anywhere, but agree with nqc, surely this would only be performed on such a young child in the case of a serious medical condition.

No, nametaken, I wouldn't rather they be fat, I would rather the parents be re-educated.

Yes, Edam, I remember one such case making the news, and there must be others.

I think though, when compared with other types of abuse, they should be prioritised. This is a health issue which should be dealt with by re-educating parents.

Easier said than done, I'm sure.

I don't think I've ever seen an obese 2 yr old, plenty of chubby ones but that's normal imo. They must be pretty rare surely?

I agree you woul have to re-educate the parents but lets be brutally honest here.

How many men do you know who are gonna tell their bosses they have to leave work at 4 o clock in order to get home, shop for and cook a nutricious healthy homecooked meal and have it on the table at tea time, before taking all their kids to the park/swimming/walk/bike ride in order to get the required one hour exercise a day they require.

coz until this starts happening, childhood obesity is here to stay.

Nametaken, you're missing the point. You don't have to do those things to not be fat. You just have to stop giving your child crisps, fizzy drinks and other crap and give them proper food.

I think that if a two year old is obsese enough to be life threatening and the parents are not co operative then I think its perfectly reasonable to take the child into care. However I think it would have to be a last restort.

There is a big difference between a child being a bit chubby and a child being morbidly obsese.

Also the state is a pretty awful parent. Children in care are far more likely to leave school with no GCSEs, have under age sex, get a criminal record. Being in care is worse for a child's health than being a bit over weight.

I really can't believe that any surgeon would perform bariatric surgery on a 2 year old. Not in a million years.

(Just for info, surgery isn't suitable for people with Prader-Willi Syndrome.)

I also read an article by a leading surgeon at Alder Hey, a leading children's hospital. The surgeon said he is seeing more and more obese children and toddlers, being admitted into hospital due to obesity, which he rarely saw when he started 15 years ago.

The obesity is causing sleep apnea, the usual breathing problems, diabetes, heart problems etc

He said he believes that it will be very soon, when they need to start performing gastric bypasses on toddlers as a last resort.

Nametaken was saying that after parents have been at work all day, they are too tired/cant be bothered preparing a healthy meal and all the family eating sweets/ takeaway/ microwave meal is an easy alternative. Not everybody lives in an area where it is safe to go for a walk in the evening and gym prices can be expensive.

I don't know what the answer is. I think working parents have a very busy lifestyle, and I don't think it helps. Also i know a mum, who doesnt work and all 5 children are obese (her husband works). And she is so exhausted at mealtimes catering for evryones differrent needs that is is so much easier for them to get "chips" from the takeaway. Chips are a quick, cheap, easy meal which everyone likes!

I see no evidence that the children of working of parents are more obsese than those of stay at home parents. In fact there are plenty of over weight people on benefits.

Part of the problem is a loss of skills. People of all social classes cook from raw ingredients a lot less. This hits people who have to live on a small budget a lot worst.

I think that better cookery education who help everyone. Prehaps those on a low income should be given free fruit and veg.