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Infants being treated for obesity | Infants being treated for obesity |
(about 4 hours later) | |
Doctors say they are now seeing children as young as six months old in their obesity clinics. | Doctors say they are now seeing children as young as six months old in their obesity clinics. |
They are concerned some parents are supersizing meal portions for very young children and have lost sight of what "normal" weight looks like. | They are concerned some parents are supersizing meal portions for very young children and have lost sight of what "normal" weight looks like. |
They told the BBC that in extreme cases overfeeding a young child should be seen as a form of abuse or neglect. | They told the BBC that in extreme cases overfeeding a young child should be seen as a form of abuse or neglect. |
A BBC investigation has learned obesity has been a factor in at least 20 child protection cases in the last year. | A BBC investigation has learned obesity has been a factor in at least 20 child protection cases in the last year. |
The BBC contacted almost 50 consultant paediatricians around the UK to ask if they believe childhood obesity can ever be a child protection issue. | The BBC contacted almost 50 consultant paediatricians around the UK to ask if they believe childhood obesity can ever be a child protection issue. |
Obesity is a public health problem, not a child protection issue Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health Kacey's weight went off the scale | Obesity is a public health problem, not a child protection issue Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health Kacey's weight went off the scale |
Dr Tabitha Randell, a consultant paediatrician from Nottingham, is one doctor who believes some parents are killing their children with kindness. | Dr Tabitha Randell, a consultant paediatrician from Nottingham, is one doctor who believes some parents are killing their children with kindness. |
In one extreme case Dr Randell saw a child aged two-and-a-half who weighed more than four stone (25.4 kg). Children of this age should weigh around two stone. | |
"They said she was big-boned and they were too. I think the perception of parents is a very real problem. | "They said she was big-boned and they were too. I think the perception of parents is a very real problem. |
"If you see every other child in the playground with their belly hanging over their trousers you think that's normal." | "If you see every other child in the playground with their belly hanging over their trousers you think that's normal." |
Overfeeding | Overfeeding |
In virtually all of the cases, it is down to overfeeding, according to the doctors surveyed. | In virtually all of the cases, it is down to overfeeding, according to the doctors surveyed. |
The were concerned that some parents no longer understand the correct portion sizes for very young children or select the wrong types of food - crisps, fizzy drinks and other sugary or high fat snacks - for their child. | The were concerned that some parents no longer understand the correct portion sizes for very young children or select the wrong types of food - crisps, fizzy drinks and other sugary or high fat snacks - for their child. |
One of the doctors said they knew of a parent who had fed a baby a McDonald's milkshake with a bottle and a teat. | One of the doctors said they knew of a parent who had fed a baby a McDonald's milkshake with a bottle and a teat. |
PORTION SIZES One-year-olds One tablespoon of finely chopped meat or fish or one egg, 2-4 times a dayHalf a small apple, pear or one small plum, 2-4 times a dayOne tablespoon of vegetables, 3-5 times a dayOne slice of bread or one tablespoon of potato, rice or cereal, 4-6 times a dayThree dice-sized pieces of cheese or two tablespoons of yoghurt, 2-4 times a dayAvoid foods high in fat or sugar500ml of full fat milk in a day 2-3-year olds One and a half tablespoons of fish or meat, 2-4 times a dayOne small apple, pear or banana, 2-4 times a dayTwo tablespoons of vegetables or one small chopped salad, 3-5 times a dayOne large slice of bread or one to two tablespoons of cereal, rice or potato, 4-6 times a day4 dice-sized pieces of cheese or three tablespoons of yoghurt, 2-4 times a daySome fatty or sugary food allowed - six small chips or one biscuit or small slice of cakeThree glasses of full fat or semi-skimmed milk | PORTION SIZES One-year-olds One tablespoon of finely chopped meat or fish or one egg, 2-4 times a dayHalf a small apple, pear or one small plum, 2-4 times a dayOne tablespoon of vegetables, 3-5 times a dayOne slice of bread or one tablespoon of potato, rice or cereal, 4-6 times a dayThree dice-sized pieces of cheese or two tablespoons of yoghurt, 2-4 times a dayAvoid foods high in fat or sugar500ml of full fat milk in a day 2-3-year olds One and a half tablespoons of fish or meat, 2-4 times a dayOne small apple, pear or banana, 2-4 times a dayTwo tablespoons of vegetables or one small chopped salad, 3-5 times a dayOne large slice of bread or one to two tablespoons of cereal, rice or potato, 4-6 times a day4 dice-sized pieces of cheese or three tablespoons of yoghurt, 2-4 times a daySome fatty or sugary food allowed - six small chips or one biscuit or small slice of cakeThree glasses of full fat or semi-skimmed milk |
But some health professionals think it is unhelpful to see childhood obesity as potential neglect. | But some health professionals think it is unhelpful to see childhood obesity as potential neglect. |
The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health said: "Obesity is a public health problem, not a child protection issue." | The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health said: "Obesity is a public health problem, not a child protection issue." |
Some parents feel they face an uphill struggle to convince their children to eat healthily in a society where there are many high fat choices on offer. | Some parents feel they face an uphill struggle to convince their children to eat healthily in a society where there are many high fat choices on offer. |
At the children's centre in the deprived Meadows area of Nottingham parents are offered support to improve their children's diet. | At the children's centre in the deprived Meadows area of Nottingham parents are offered support to improve their children's diet. |
A group of mothers has just signed up for a six-week course, learning how to prepare healthy food from scratch. | A group of mothers has just signed up for a six-week course, learning how to prepare healthy food from scratch. |
The mothers say it is too easy to blame parents. | The mothers say it is too easy to blame parents. |
Vikki Sansom, who has two young children, said: "I think there is a big difference between not feeding and overfeeding. | Vikki Sansom, who has two young children, said: "I think there is a big difference between not feeding and overfeeding. |
"It's really hard for parents and it's wrong to say that's neglect". | "It's really hard for parents and it's wrong to say that's neglect". |
The British Medical Association is due to debate a motion on this issue at its annual conference at the end of June. | The British Medical Association is due to debate a motion on this issue at its annual conference at the end of June. |