When does childhood obesity become abuse? Obesity is plaguing Americas children with a multitude of health problems
Olivia Valerio
English 102
Professor Canow
September 22, 2011
The Explatory Paper
When does childhood obesity become abuse? Obesity is plaguing America’s children with a multitude of health problems -- now there’s a new risk to be added to the list: shorter life expectancy. For the first time in history, the next generation will not live longer, or even as long, as their parents. Where do we as a country draw the line? How long do we allow parents to slowly kill their children without consequences? A shocking case out of South Carolina might hold the key to new laws, as a mother of a 555 pond 14 year old, was indicted on criminal charges of child neglect.
“Diseases such as Type II diabetes, high blood pressure, heart conditions and joint deterioration - what were once considered ‘adult’ diseases - are regularly being diagnosed in children, due to the prevalence of obesity,” said Jessica Bartfield, MD, internal medicine and medical weight-loss specialist at Gottlieb Memorial Hospital, part of the Loyola University Health System. When and where are we going to draw the line between poor choices and out right abuse. "So many children are obese and the majority is to do with the cost of fresh foods, versus their shelf life- as well as lower income mothers loving their children with the only thing they can afford to give, food", says Ron Jones, a corporate wellness expert based in Atlanta and Los Angeles,. David Rogers a spokesperson for the local Government Association (LGA) proclaims that ‘parents who allow their children to eat too much could be as guilty of neglect as those who did not feed their children at all. 12.5 million U.S. children are obese making the average of 19-24% of obese children per state, Louisiana has a percentage rate of 41% of its children being obese. (Rogers)
