| The number of overweight children is at an all time | | | | But it's Not Malicious |
| high and the numbers are increasing. Strategies to | | | | Allowing a 3 year-old to play outside alone is not the |
| reverse this disturbing trend must be created and put | | | | same as hitting them with a car. However, if they run |
| into action. One strategy would be to imprison the | | | | into the middle of the street and are hit by a car, the |
| parents of overweight children, as you would the | | | | parent should still be blamed. The parent did not have |
| parent of any child being abused. | | | | bad intentions, but they were irresponsible. Parents |
| Overweight Children are Victims of Child Abuse | | | | have control over what and how much their children |
| Child abuse can be broken down into four distinct | | | | eat. Allowing a child to become and stay overweight |
| groups: child neglect, physical abuse, emotional abuse, | | | | is just as bad as force-feeding them unhealthy foods. |
| and sexual abuse. The most dangerous and the most | | | | But The Parents Don't Know Any Better |
| reported of the four is child neglect. According to the | | | | Many of the parents of overweight children are |
| MedTerms Medical Dictionary, child neglect is defined | | | | overweight themselves. They do not understand the |
| as the failure to provide for the shelter, safety, | | | | health consequences of being overweight, or do not |
| supervision and nutritional needs of the child. | | | | know how to lose weight themselves. Ignorance is |
| Parents of overweight children fail to provide: | | | | not an excuse. |
| * Nutritional needs - Children need to not eat too | | | | Is it acceptable for a smoker to allow their under-age |
| many calories, grams of "bad" fats, or grams of "bad" | | | | child to smoke? |
| carbohydrates. | | | | Maybe They Deserve Parole |
| * Supervision - What and when a child is eating | | | | Allowing a child to become and stay overweight is |
| should be supervised. What types and how much | | | | child abuse. However, I do not feel these parents |
| physical activity a child is getting should also be | | | | should be jailed. I was an overweight child and I do |
| supervised. | | | | not think my parents should have been placed in |
| * Safety - Not controlling the habits of a child can | | | | prison. However, something should be done to make |
| have multiple health consequences in the present and | | | | parents accountable, because the children cannot help |
| in the future. | | | | themselves. |