Arresting the mother of a 550-pound boy for child abuse may set a bad precedent, according to some experts studying a South Carolina case. Jerri Gray faces charges of child neglect, because her son, Alexander Draper, became morbidly obese by age 14.
Alexander is in foster care, and Gray was released on a $50,000 bond.
Linda Spears, vice president of policy and public affairs for the Child Welfare League of America, said criminal charges like this should only be a last resort.
"I think I would draw the line at a place where there are serious health consequences for the child and efforts to work with the family have repeatedly failed," she said.
The Gray case appears at a time when 20 states require students to go through weight-related exams, and some send home "weight report cards" to parents.
Ron Jones, a corporate wellness expert, believes parents should be held responsible for their children's weight.
"If you gave your child a drug, you'd be held in court," he said. "But if you kill them with food, that seems to be acceptable."
Labels: laws, overweight children, parenting