Should 555lb Boy's Mom Be Arrested?
Jerry Gray, a South Carolina woman who’s 15-year-old son weighs in at 555lbs was recently charged with neglect, and her son was taken away and put into foster care.
Gray claims that her only neglect is having to work two jobs to support the family, and not having the time to take more control of her son, Alexander’s, diet. The state of South Carolina doesn’t quite see it that way, stating that the teenager’s weight is an extreme health risk, and by not taking measures to control his weight, his mother was endangering the welfare of a child.
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Social Services had stepped in before, providing health guidelines for the family to follow. Gray says she followed them when she was home, but that Alexander ate however he wanted when he was at school and when she was at work.
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This is a pretty interesting case, one that could set some serious legal precedence. If parents can be arrested based on their childrens eating habits that will mean a whole slew of parents will be in danger of losing their children not only based on obesity, but on children suffering from the eating disorders anorexia and bulimia.
If there’s one thing a disordered eater needs – whether that disorder is overeating or under eating – well, that’s even more guilt associated with food. You can be sure watching your mother getting arrested because of your love of Ding-Dongs is going to create some pretty deep emotional scars.
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What are your thoughts, should parents of overweight (or underweight) children be stripped of their parental rights?
Let us know in the comments section below.
