This sort of abuse is so rare and so difficult to evaluate, that I think our society is best off ignoring it. Sure, the kid is going to die at a very young age... and I'm saying "So what?"

Anything we did to address this one in a million problem would cause more harm than good in the end.

I'm with you fenriq. I think over feeding is child abuse. It breaks my heart to see really overweight kids eating shit. Sometimes there is a medical reason, but I am afraid that's not the more common explanation.

But, I should mention, I am a judgemental prick when it comes to child rearing.

fff, we don't really have to do anything new to address it. It should be called into Child Protective Services the same as any kind of suspected abuse, and they should make a determination. No new laws or special circumstances needed. In fact, it would be a special circumstance to ignore it, since it's clearly a type of neglect, which is very much covered by abuse laws.

Is that kind of weight gain even possible without an aggravating medical condition? We're talking 4x average weight here, I believe.

I'm a judgemental prick period. This is some sick shit.

richat, I think the second you become a dad you are automatically given a license to be a judgemental prick when it comes to child rearing. I know I am.

A buddy just left a comment on my blog about a dad who wanted to stop by the strip club on the way home with his 5 year old in the car. He went in and told his son that monsters would eat him if he got out of the car. Needless to say, the kid got bored after an hour and went looking for his dad. Luckily the kid went into the strip club and not into the four lanes of traffic just outside the parking lot.

Its awful and sad. I feel bad for these kids because its not their fault, its their parents fault for not setting stronger rules and making sure the kids do things during the day instead of sitting and eating and eating and eating.