I'm sorry, but if you have a 550 lb teen, you HAVE to see that there is something WRONG here. This isn't a case of an overweight child. This is a medical emergency.
Like it or not, this weight didn't come on overnight. It took years of over-feeding to get there. And there WAS intervention by the State to no effect. So the bottom line is, IMHO, this child needs medical assistance RIGHT NOW to save his life. And if this means removing the child from his clearly toxic enviornment (home, school, interactions with friends, and so on) to save his life, so be it. This kid doesn't have the time to wait for his family to get educated any more, and he doesn't need to be in the same living situation for the time being.
IMHO, it is no different that if the child is a drug addict and close to death -- would the State allow a drug-addicted child to stay in the home and partake of drugs while allowing the parents to receive education about the issue? Especially if the parents were addicts themselves (because I'll bet you dollars to donuts
that the parents aren't at a normal weight, either)? Probably not. The State would remove the child from a harmful situation to save a life.
Make no mistake about it, people. This is a MEDICAL EMERGENCY IMHO. This child's days are numbered without serious, severe intervention. He needs to be out of this toxic environment, in a closed clinic, and monitored and treated medically for his condition. This won't happen at home. And he doesn't have the luxury of time.
As to the mother being charged, well, the media tells us limited information. I'm fairly confident that there is far more to this situation than we know. And charges are generally not laid unless there is particularly egregious behaviour because of the optics. So I'll bet dollars to donuts
that there is alot more going on.
I'm glad the State intervened, as this kid doesn't stand a chance without some serious assistance. And if this was a 5 year old who was 300 lbs, would you feel any differently?
Kira