A new commentary in the July issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association says "placement of the severely obese child under protective custody warrants discussion" and that "mandated reporter laws may obligate physicians to contact child protective services in the cases of children for whom chronic parental neglect has resulted in severe weight-related health complications."

o be clear, this is not just about being a little overweight. Dr. David S. Ludwig, a pediatric endocrinologist who treats childhood obesity in the Optimal Weight for Life program at Children's Hospital Boston, and Lindsey Murtagh, with the Harvard School of Public Health, only suggest thinking about this drastic measure for the most severely overweight children. These children with severe obesity likely have "profoundly dysfunctional eating and activity habits."

But taking overweight kids away from their parents is not the answer to the childhood obesity crisis. The authors even state that although it may be "justifiable from a legal standpoint because of imminent health risks and the parents' chronic failure to address medical problems," it is still not "desirable or practical" for most severely overweight children.

Reference:http://pediatrics.about.com/b/2011/07/13/does-childhood-obesity-equal-medical-neglect.htm