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Children of overweight couple taken into care
22 Oct 2009An overweight couple had all seven of their children taken into care, it was reported today.
The so-called "fat family" from Dundee was split up amid concerns over the siblings welfare.
The children, who include a newborn girl and a 13-year-old boy, also have weight problems.
They were removed by social workers following a meeting of the Children's Panel, STV News reported.
The 40-year-old mother reportedly weighs 23 stone and her 53-year-old husband weighs around 18 stone.
Dundee City Council intervened earlier this year after questions were raised over the care provided by the couple, who cannot be named to protect the identity of their children.
The mother gave birth to her youngest earlier this week.
Two children aged three and four were taken into care earlier this year.
The local authority said any decision to remove children from their family would not be made solely on the basis of a their weight.
A council spokesman said: "Any decision about a child's situation is given full and careful consideration.
"In many cases, social workers will have been providing a high level of professional and caring support to a family for many years in a bid to keep them together.
"However, the welfare and safety of a child or children is the over-riding priority and in some cases, despite the strenuous efforts of the agencies providing this support, the best option is for them to be looked after away from their home.
"Councils will always act with the welfare and safety of children in mind and there can be many reasons for action being taken."
The council said decisions were made by the Children's Panel based on evidence provided by the local authority and health agencies.
The mother told STV News of her distress at having two children removed earlier this month.
She said: "All I hear from the two lassies is 'can we come home' and I tell them 'soon darlings'. It hurts.
"I will take my kids to the obesity clinic and help them get the help that they need.
"I want the best for my kids - that's the kind of mother I am."
Reader views (3)
Given the publicised quality of child 'care' in England, it may be a matter of out of the frying pan and into the fire.
- N. Waters, Mississauga, Canada, 22/10/2009 18:29
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Thin end of the wedge!
The term 'draconian measures' would not be out of place here either, from what little is known of the matter. Just how much control of a family's life can the authorities usurp, all in the name of 'for the children', a broad and freely flexible definition if ever there was such.
If the family were doing something illegal, then say so - or be condemned as control freaks extraordinaire.
...one thing occurs to me though, in fairness (kinda sorta...) - is this a part of the fall-out from that other social services fiasco down south, forced over-reaction to situations? Wouldn't make it right, just something to take into consideration before they start destroying families any more than they already do.
- Rogan, Irving, 22/10/2009 15:48
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This is the nanny state gone far too far. No parents are perfect, but state care is vastly inferior to loving parents with a weight problem. It's obvious these children are unhappy and being traumatised by forcible separation from their parents.
The state should intervene in families only where it can be proved that the parents are actively abusing their children. Such children are unlikely to want to go home!
- Nigel, London, 22/10/2009 13:47
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