Obese Third Grader Removed From Home

Cuyahoga county workers removed a third grader from his home because he weighs more than 200 pounds.

Officials feel that his mother was not doing enough to control the child's weight.

"This was a case of medical neglect in the opinion of health care professionals. This child has some severe conditions that if not dealt with differently than his family had at that point could be life threatening," said Pat Rideout, Department of Children and Family Services.

Reports show the 8-year-old is considered severely obese and at risk for diseases such as diabetes and hypertension, reported ONN's Cristin Severance.

Rideout said they worked with the family for more than a year to get the third grader's weight under control through programs and counseling. With no change in the boy's health, Rideout said they had to contact the court and take a more "intrusive approach."

"It was very, very serious. It was not a simple case, not an easy case, but a child at very, very serious risk," said Rideout.

State officials said this is the first time a child has been placed in foster care for a strictly weight-related issue.

"I believe that is medical neglect. The mom should have taken more time and made sure her kid was healthy. No child should be overweight," one parent told ONN-TV.

But other's worry the big changes could do more harm than good.

"I don't think that's right. They probably should have helped the kid, get the kid some help but not by taking him out of the home, that's not right," said another parent.

Family Law Specialist Steven Slive was surprised by the move.

"It's unusual, the county doesn't get involved unless it's a much more serious infraction," said Slive.

But Slive said it was the right call and stressed, foster care isn't permanent.

"In any kind of neglect case like this, the law is to reunite the parents and the child. So this is sort of temporary," said Slive.

"We hope that we'll be able to work this family so they can meet his needs and he can get home and be healthy," added Rideout.

A hearing in juvenile court is scheduled for this month.