BY MIKE EYERS.
The recent story concerning an 8 year old boy from Newcastle in the UK, weighing in at a staggering 89kilograms has sparked an outrage amongst medical professionals. The single mother, Nicola Mckeown, says that her son won’t eat fruit, vegetables or salad so she has no choice but to serve up highly processed foods which he will readily consume.
Ms Mckeown states that “putting a lock on the fridge is not the way to do it, starving your child” saying that she is confident that she can turn him around and help him lose weight. The last resort however would be to put him into the care of professionals, also raising the question of what the mother has done in the past could be classed as child abuse.
The fact that he has already lost close to 9 kilograms since seeking help from health workers and a dietitian at the start of the year is encouraging. In her own defense, Ms Mckeown states that “he likes processed foods”. When I was only 8 years old and presented with the option of eating a carrot or some biscuits, there was no question which way I went. Children of that age aren’t built with the skills to make the right decision for their health. If there are only healthy options presented to children, after some tears and tantrums, they to will eat anything to survive. After all, parents are in the driver’s seat of not just their own health, but also their children’s future.