Is childhood obesity child abuse?

I was watching TV when a promo from the local RSPCA came on. It said 40% of pets were obese, and from now on they could prosecute anyone who had an obese pet for animal cruelty.

I thought it was fair enough, and decided to take my dog for 2 walks a day instead of only 1.

But then I realised there was no legislation where I live for parents with obese children. Half the kids in my area are fat, and every second one I see is eating McDonalds, drinking Coke or sucking on ice cream cones.

It suddenly seemed crazy that I could be prosecuted if I allowed my pet to become fat, but my kids could be morbidly obese and the law can't touch me.

Is this a case of "You wouldn't do it to a dog ..."?

What do other people think?

Your thinking is precisely 'on track'... it's amazing that the lobbyists against animal abuse obviously have far greater influence or at least a much more attentive audience, than do their counterparts for the prevention of same against infants of our own species!

It's sickening to see those infants and children as you describe, waddling in the streets and parks of our country with their pudgy little hands clutched in the grasp of their parents' sadly ignorant control.

The obesity of America's adult and teen population has been a near constant topic for the media for many years now, to which our people seem to wear blinders, despite the growing numbers and profit of health clubs everywhere. Watching the doors of these centers, one will see a constant stream of overweight members enter, as others make their sweaty egress to their feeding grounds outside.

What's wrong with the picture described? Sadly, it's sharp as a steak knife and no amount of air-brushing can make it attractive, even to the uncritical eye.

Perhaps we need to adapt the code of laws and regulation as developed and adapted by the RSPCA and create an RSPCC'hildren to be enacted and empowered to protect our innocents from the ignorants who breed and feed them.

What do I think? "It's not even a DOG's life" for far too many of our youth, beginning at the most dangerous and influential periods of their learning-- infancy!

By the way, 'some answerers'... extremely rare is the child born with a 'predisposition' to be fat. Absurd. Know that "fat cells" are formed during early stages of growth... and stay within the organism throughout its lifetime! Google you that! Why do you think lipo(fat)suction(vacuuming) is the ONLY way for some people to get rid of those thunder thighs and saddle bags grown throughout one's life?

Do something, please... I'm too old to begin a crusade, but I'll join it in a cholesteral heartbeat! Source(s): Public media, acquired knowledge of dietetics, background as a medical technologist/scientist, observance beyond the tip of my nose and common sensibilities.

YEAH IT IS CHILD ABUSE CUZ THEY PUT SOOOO MUCH PRESSURE ON LITTLE KIDS TO LOSE WEIGHT AND IT HURTS THERE FEELINGS AND NOT ONLY THERE SELF-ASTEEM
It's abuse in it's own way, but it shouldn't be treated as regular child abuse is. The parents definitely need to be punished in some manner, though.
yes it is abuse the parents can regulate what there child eats and what their activty is...they can be the change.
Great point. You should be a lawyer, or a judge!

I believe in some case it is. Good luck prosecuting though!
well, all we can do is provide good food choices for our children, but for an animal, how are we abusing, do we pour the food down their throats, that is ridiculous