Officials threaten to take 218-pound eight year old boy away from mother

Eight-year-old in danger, MDs say



Connor McCreaddie, who weighs 218 pounds at age 8, could be taken into protective custody for his own benefit.

Courtney French, The Associated Press
Published: Tuesday, February 27, 2007

LONDON - Authorities are considering taking an eight-year-old boy who weighs 218 pounds into protective custody unless his mother improves his diet, officials said yesterday.

Social service officials will meet with family members today to discuss the health of Connor McCreaddie, who weighs more than three times the average for his age.

cont'd http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/story.html?id=ee464987-4032-4696-87bf-3fe66e575958

What is he, Gollum?

Somebody's feeding the kid; the parents have pretty much blown off all efforts by the government to help them with the situation, so it may not be a bad idea to turn him over to someone who will better care for him.

That's disgusting. His mother should be ashamed of herself. If the kid is suffering from a medical condition that causes this I would be completely sympathetic but the fact that she misses medical and social service appointments and says the kid badgers her when she doesn't give him enough at teatime so she gives in; that tells me she doesn't have her son's best interest in mind. Mind you, I am biased regarding this topic. My sister has let her child balloon to over 200 pounds in spite of the mounting health problems and social hell the kid is going through in junior high.

Self-control. The kid needs it, and his parents aren't teaching it (or exercising it themselves when it comes to feeding him).

You know, he's only 8 years old. There's no way he could buy food since he has no money so the only way he can get food is at home or at school. It is his parent's fault for feeding him too much fattening food. The mom says he hides food. Well, she should not buy so much and only buy healthy food.

I did not get from the article that this was a medical condition but I wanted to temper my comments with that being a possibility.

that his use of the word "us" was in reference to him and his mom.

He's talking about the kids bullying him. Pretty sure they're not bullying his mom.

It is an occasional British affectation of speech; it just sounds odd.

I'm glad someone is standing up to the plate and is willing to actually help this child.

We really need to start doing this in America, too.


I know it might sound rude, but if I have to pay higher taxes just because I don't have kids (which tax I resent highly and like to call the "Didn't fuck successfully Tax"), as well as help support the educational system (which tax I pay happily), I think I - and all of us who pay for other people's kids - should have some say in how they are raised.

I didn't fuck successfully either. Or often enough.

If you call that a religion.

I think there's an age diff, though.

:7

Good to meet you!

And yes, probably an age difference - I'm a Gen-X (though my home galaxy was long dead in the recesses of the universe's history long before your galaxy was even forming).

218 lbs is still obese for him; but not as severe as the headline would lead one to believe.

Sounds like he needs more than a diet, if he's sneaking snacks. I hope he overcomes his addiction soon...

First off I'd say the kid probably does have a "medical condition". I'd suspect it's the one where the part of your brain that tells you "you're full now; stop eating" isn't functioning properly. And it's fairly common amongst those who are grossly obese and who habitually overeat (eat way more than the 'normal' person.)

Secondly, if it hadn't said the mom had been blowing off doctors and nutritionist visits, etc., I'd be more sympathetic - but as she doesn't seem to be doing ALL she can to alleviate the situation, then maybe the state will have to step in. Hopefully, it won't come to that.


Thirdly, my 8 yo is 99 pounds. A wee bit more than "normal". He's a big boy - tall, yes, and built like a tank. He's always been extremely muscular. He had defined calves at TWO years old. He has biceps bigger than most teen boys I know. His thighs - well, we call them Earl Campbell thighs! lol

He's always had a big appetite - not grossly overeating, but still he always ate more than most kids his age. We were 'okay' with that because he's very muscular and very very active - and up until about a year or so ago - he was thin (not skinny but definitely not even 'stocky'.)

However, about a year or so ago - he gained ~25 lbs in a year's time - without changing diet or exercise level. He's now considered "husky". He thinks he's fat. Others looking at him might think he is a little bit on the 'hefty side'. However, he is still very muscular, still eats very healthily (we're vegetarians on a low fat diet so "junk food" is almost totally non-existent), and he is still is VERY active.


We're currently participating in a nutritional study at the local university and in the process, he's getting a good going over by the nutritionist, the endocrinologist, and a pediatrician. They think he just may be a "big guy". His birthmom's family are all LARGE people - but I thought it was due to their diet being typical Southern fare - fried everything with extra salt and gravy, ya know?

We're not over-reacting - but we are trying to manage his portions by scaling down a bit - and being even MORE vigilant about what he eat - without turning into food nazis.


At any rate, the point I guess I'm trying to make here is you really can't judge a person "just by looking at them".

that his mother fills the house with crap food, and gives in whenever he demands to eat it. Not responsible parenting, imho.

But you, you're doing the right thing, and doing what's best for your family and son. Thank you for that :pals:

Though his height (I'm 5 feet tall!!) suggests otherwise.

His mother is going to kill him otherwise. She doesn't KNOW that giving him all that grossly fattening stuff is bad for him? Then that is yet another reason to remove him.

If she were giving him tiny portions of poison every day in his food they would certainly do it. HOW is this different?

Redstone

or at least he was, I haven't heard any news from that part of the family ( my stepfather's) for a few years now.

But apparently D-Man, the last I have heard of him, was 300 some odd pounds and was just a little older than this kid. He is so big that he can't even wipe himself when he goes to the bathroom. Sondra, who is taking care of him has said that she has found that he often sneaks food, he has stealthily taking the cereal boxes and opened the bottoms and ate them like that and then replaces the boxes.

I don't know much of what is happening with him now but I sure as hell hope he's losing weight.

Blue