Yup: since we already have it down that malnutrition (in the case of being too skinny) is grounds for intervention, no reason not to use the same basis for the super-obese kids who are in as much danger.

Assuming that a medical reason has been ruled out (thyroid malfunction, for example), it does seem a case of abuse or neglect.

I had a cousin who got up to 500 lbs or so. She was a bit nutty. When they put locks on the fridge to keep her out, she hitch-hiked to sears for bolt-cutters. But I have to say, she was eating for a reason. My aunt and uncle were going through one of those war-of-the-roses kind of divorces. My aunt kept escalating the charges against my uncle, really ugly stuff that none of us believed. The divorce didn’t end till he had an early heart attack in his mid 40s.

My cousin has three kids now, but has custody of none of them. I hear she’s lost some of the weight though. There’s some rumor about crack.

Yeah, it’d be a last possible choice: try counseling, medical checks etc. first—and of course consider providing the family with enough options that they don’t need to eat fast food every single day.

There’s some rumor about crack.

I bet it’s a big one

Super obese kids serve a purpose. They are the “canary in the coal mine” for the coming zombie apocalypse.  Slow moving “low hanging fruit” they will get picked off first and once their absence is noticed will eventually lead to alarm. Ethical considerations will, of necessity, be put to one side, and the fatties will be used as chum to lure the zombies. It’s ALL part of God’s plan.

But when the super obese kids become zombies, just think of how many brains they will need to eat every day to maintain their physique. The apocalypse is getting closer.