7 UK Children Taken from Overweight Parents Because of Concerns Over Their Welfare

'Fat Family' Children Taken from Parents in UK

October 22, 2009

Sky News Online - Seven children, including a newborn baby, have been taken from their overweight parents and put into care because of concerns over their welfare. The family from Dundee was split up by social workers following a meeting of the Children's Panel.

The youngsters include a girl born earlier this week at the city's Ninewells Hospital and taken from the arms of her 23 stone mother shortly afterwards. The 40-year-old woman and her 53-year-old husband, who weighs around 18 stone, have not been named to protect the identity of their children.

Two of their kids, aged three and four, were taken into care earlier this year. Now the other five, including the newborn and a 13-year-old boy who is said to weigh 16 stone, have been taken from their parents.

The local authority insisted it was not its policy to remove children from their family home solely on the basis of weight problems. Councils will always act with the welfare and safety of children in mind and there can be many reasons for action being taken.

But the family's solicitor Kathleen Price has previously claimed obesity was the main reason for the children being taken from their parents. She said the couple had not been given a fair hearing and had been "victimised."

A spokesman for Dundee City Council 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."