254-Pound 7-Year-Old May Be Removed From Parents' Home

[The Straight Story]

254-Pound 7-Year-Old May Be Removed From Parents' Home
Mother Says Diets, Doctors Not Helping Son

A mother in South Carolina is fighting the state Department of Social Services to keep her 7-year-old son, who weighs 254 pounds, according to a Local 6 News report.

Photos: Images From Story

Joyce Painter said the Department of Social Services is threatening to remove her son, Justin, from her home in Polk County, S.C.


Painter said her son's weight problems began at age three.

She said diets and doctors are not helping the child, who continues to gain weight at a rapid pace.

"I do the best I can," Painter said. "If I'm doing something wrong, show me. Come in my house and go through my cabinets. If there's something in there that shouldn't be, show me. I'll throw it out."

http://www.local6.com/spotlight/11328784/detail.html

[slackmaster]

1. That's the second biggest 7-year-old I've ever seen

[ThomCat]

2. There has to be a health reason for this.

I can't imagine any parent would just allow this to happen. I feel bad for that kid. I'm sure he doesn't have an easy life because of all the complications from this.

[Kolesar]

5. Thyroid, endocrine system, something like that...

This is a heartbreak.

[Eurobabe]

34. Precisely what I thought when I first saw him

This is a serious metabolic syndrome.

[MADem]

8. The mother is pretty massive, too. Check the video. NT

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

3. That poor child does not have a chance.

I won't judge his mom- for all I know it could be a hormone thing. In any case, that little boy needs a hell of a lot more help than just being ripped from his home.

[AlCzervik]

4. that poor kid, i hope he gets some help.

if he's gaining weight at a rapid pace there is either something medically wrong with or he's just eating way too much---obviously.

[MADem]

6. Oh. My. Goodness. That poor fucking kid looks like Baby Huey.

Mother is pretty hefty, too, per the video at the link.

Painter said she was told by social service officials that they received a tip that she was feeding the child all of the time.

[Warpy]

7. It sounds like one of those cases

where the food needs to be kept under lock and key so the kid won't binge during the night when she's asleep.

The poor kid looks ready to burst. I can't imagine how uncomfortable he must be.

[Horse with no Name]

9. He looks like he has Prader-Willi Syndrome

Very much like some of the kids we saw with this.
I wonder if he has been tested? He has very small hands which is one of the hallmarks of this disease.
http://medgen.genetics.utah.edu/photographs/pages/praderwilli.htm

[cwydro]

10. I thought so too.

[TheCowsCameHome]

11. Very sad. I hope they find help for that kid before he shuts down.

Mom looks like she's way to heavy, too. Perhaps both need a thorough evalution.

[Klukie]

12. There has to be something wrong with this child

Why don't they start with some massive medical testing. I know plenty of kids who eat way too much junk and they don't come close to looking like this.

[saracat]

13. And why don't they go through her cabinets? Some parents deliberately "stuff'

their kids.Sad but true. I have no idea wether this woman is doing something wrong or not but something needs to be done for that poor child.Mom is not a normal weight either so obviously it is either genetic or bad eating for both. She says she tries to cook "healthy" meals.I wonder what she defines as healthy?

[Horse with no Name]

15. The distribution of this child's obesity is wrong

I don't believe it is from overeating.
I would be convinced it is metabolic.

[Breeze54]

17. Even if it is Prader-Willi, the treatment is diet/exercise & a lock on the food.

http://www.med.umich.edu/1libr/yourchild/praders.htm

rarediseases.about.com/od/rarediseasesp/a/praderwilli.htm
Treatment

There is no cure for Prader-Willi syndrome. However, the physical problems caused by the syndrome
can be managed. During infancy, special feeding techniques and formulas can help the infant grow.
Physical therapy and exercise helps improve strength and coordination. Administering human growth
hormone (Genotropin, Humatrope, Norditropin) improves muscle mass and growth.

Speech therapy can help children who are behind in their language skills to catch up to their peers.
Special education services and supports help children with Prader-Willi achieve their full capacity.

As the child grows, eating and weight problems can by controlled through a balanced, low-calorie diet,
weight monitoring, external food restriction, and daily exercise.

---------------------

http://www.emedicine.com/ped/topic1880.htm
GI - Infantile feeding problems and/or failure to thrive

The Mom said he was fine until he was three.
It's very sad for the Mom and her son.
They need help, not separation!

[Horse with no Name]

21. Many people think spitting up is normal in babies

even when it is excessive. Excess gas, colic and GI upset is also attributed to "normal" infancy. I wouldn't rely too heavily on that statement.
The Mom may not be a good historian because when speaking of being normal she was probably referring to weight gain, when in fact, his weight was probably okay.
I obviously cannot make a diagnosis, but I have seen the syndrome and he looks very much like the patients we treated that had it.
You are correct however that it needs to be treated by diet, but even that is different than it would be for a normal person--which is one of the reasons for the obesity. Their calorie needs are only 60% of what a normal child needs--so him eating what we consider a regular portion is actually almost a double portion.
http://www.pwsausa.org/syndrome/foodpyramid.htm
>>>snip
The USDA’s Food Guide Pyramid provides an appealing graphic tool far thinking about a day’s food portions, but it simply adds up to too much food for someone on a Prader-Willi diet. We asked the Children's Institute if they could adapt the new pyramid to the typical PW diet for families that might wish to use it as an alternative to the Exchange System, the Red-Yellow-Green (Stoplight) Diet, or other methods of counting calories. The Institue was glad to oblige but urges those who have been through the Institue’s program to continue using the Red-Yellow-Green Diet that they learned there. The Prader-Willi Food Pyramid that follows may not be appropriate for young children or for those on growth hormone therapy, and it should not be considered a substitute for individualized dietary guidance. Dietary guidance preferably should come from a nutritionist who is familiar with PWS.

>>>snip
The Food Pyramid Guide to Daily Food Choices, designed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture for adults who need 1,600 to 2,800 calories a day, represents the relative portions of foods to eat each day to maintain a healthy weight and body. To make the Food Pyramid usable for people with Prader-Willi syndrome, a few changes have to be made.
>>>snip
The first change needed is to adjust the number of daily servings for each food group in order to reduce the total calorie level to 800 to 1,200 a day. These lower levels will provide for weight loss or maintenance for the adult or teenager with PWS, whose calorie needs are about 60 percent of those without PWS.

Second, although the five main food groups—bread, vegetable, fruit, meat, and milk—remain the same, the positions of two of the groups need to be changed on the pyramid to reflect a change in the recommended number of servings. Each group has a specific number of servings that determines its position on the pyramid.

[Breeze54]

32. Yeah, I know.

"...Many people think spitting up is normal in babies..."

But you'd think the pediatrician would've noticed something
in three years unless she didn't have health insurance.
There are other symptoms though, in infancy, besides colic.

It's to bad for the both of them. They both need to get on a program.
It's got to be a tough life for them both.

[Horse with no Name]

35. You'd think so anyway

However, in my experience, it isn't always that way.

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/Horse%20with%20no%20Name/27

[danalytical]

18. Don't you think Social Services would already have looked into

medical reasons for the weight gain. I know the state can be cruel, but they don't usually go around looking to split families up without cause. This boy has obvious problems, and if he isn't getting any help from his family he should be at least temporarily removed to try to get him healthy. If they see any improvement, then we will know if he was being stuffed or not.

I just don't believe the state wouldn't consider a medical reason for the obesity before threatening to take custody. It's illogical and opens them up to a lawsuit.

[Horse with no Name]

20. It can be hard to detect

and unless he has been sent to a large Children's Hospital for evaluation that sees it regularly, chances are it can be missed.
I had a disorder that 8 Doctors in a fairly large hospital couldn't figure out for over a year. When I went to a large University hospital, it took 10 minutes and one Doctor to get a diagnosis and 2 weeks for the labwork to confirm it.

[China_cat]

24. No, I don't.

SC DSS is known for ripping kids out of homes on the flimsiest excuses. It got so bad at one point that we even had PSA's running on all 3 local stations here in Charleston telling parents what their rights are.

Kids have been removed for having ANY bruising...even when the child tells the social worker that it was from playing sports. In this state, if DSS says you're guilty, you're guilty. Even if you can prove you aren't.

[Gormy Cuss]

26. Social Services has given her two months to show that her approach has him losing weight.

If he is still gaining weight, or not showing a weight loss, then and only then will they move for custody. The story sounds like one where they are giving the mother the opportunity to address the issue herself, which will work if she's overfeeding him or being negligent in some way. If it doesn't work, then the prudent course is to remove him from her custody temporarily while they try to sort out what is causing his extraordinary weight. This kid is not just morbidly obese, he looks like he's about to explode. As others have mentioned, he may have a disorder like Prader-Willi and for the kid's sake someone needs to exclude a medical reason for his weight. The mother is asking for help in the video. She seems at a loss to explain it.

[RubyDuby in GA]

14. This sounds like the story that was on here yesterday about the baby

in South America that is very large.

If I am reading the article correctly, it would seem that she has sought medical help with this.

[MistressOverdone]

16. Isn't there a disorder where no matter what a child eats

he/she still feels hungry?

I think this child needs hospitalization and not foster homes.

[BonnieJW]

19. The only thing to do

is to have a nutritionist come in and go through the entire kitchen, throw away and re-stock. Then take the mother grocery shopping and show her how to shop, how to follow a healthy recipe, what portion sizes look like, etc. Just because someone is an adult, does not mean they know about proper nutrition. The mother's weight tells the whole story. She has no clue.

[Missy Vixen]

22. Especially if she has a metabolic disorder that is causing her excessive weight

>The mother's weight tells the whole story. She has no clue.<

We all know that everyone who's fat has done nothing but stuff themselves their entire lives, don't we? :sarcasm:

There is a lot more wrong with this child than simple overeating. It's better to actually run some tests and rule out metabolic issues, but fingerpointing's sure a lot easier.

Julie

[Horse with no Name]

23. Pass me that thar bowl of mashed taters cause I haven't eaten in ten minutes

Got to keep up my girlish figure you know?;)

[Missy Vixen]

25. Not unless they're fried in lard

Nothing but the best for my family! ;-)

:hi:
Julie

[Horse with no Name]

28. How elitest! WE use bacon grease.

:hi:

[Missy Vixen]

37. Horse with no Name, I hope you'll visit anytime

I like your style. ;-)

:yourock:
Julie

[Horse with no Name]

40. I'd love to.

:hug:Just make sure you stock up on some pork rinds.:hi:

[MrMickeysMom]

39. Agreed!

So, so many people as evidenced by theh 5 roles of abdominal fat around them do not know HOW to make food choices. Too bad this kind of news come out of South Carolina, since it's a reinforced stereotype.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

27. The poor family

Too often people don't understand that obesity isn't always caused by overeating.

I have a friend who eats less than I do who weighs 100+ pounds more than myself. We lived together for a while and I know she doesn't eat that much and is actually more active than I am. Her weight has been a problem for her since she was a child. Right now she's healthy, but it's an on going issue for her not to gain to the point that her health is compromised.

I don't know the cause of this child's obesity, but I do hope that someone is able to find a way to treat him and help him and his mother.

[depakid]

29. Seems to me that they need a dietician

No person can gain weight if they consume less calories than they burn. Metabolic rates and fat distribution aside, that's really the crux of the issue.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

31. You're right

They way I should have worded that is, overly indulgent eating.

[MissB]

30. Yikes.

I have a 7 year old that weights at least 200 lbs less than that. :wow:

[Eurobabe]

33. This child has a serious metabolic disorder

he needs to be in a children's hospital somewhere being examined.

[Breeze54]

38. How? In SC; 100,000 kids have zero health care coverage...

Senate Democrats hear healthcare concerns, suggestions

http://www.wistv.com/Global/story.asp?S=6261619

(Columbia) March 21, 2007 -

The issue of health care was a big topic at the State House Wednesday.
Senate Democrats got an earful from people who say the General Assembly needs
to do something to help those who can't afford insurance.

In a state of four million - there are one in five with no health insurance.

More than 100,000 kids have zero coverage.

Sue Berkowitz says, "We have a healthcare crisis in our country and in South Carolina."

more.....

[redqueen]

36. Our social services systems are failing badly.

Taking kids away from their parents should only be done when absolutely necessary... if it's true that this child has some kind of medical disorder... he has no business being separated from his family.

[Horse with no Name]

41. Please compare this child to a child that has PWS

As in most genetic diseases (such as Down's), the actual disease will have certain characteristics. Compare the facies of this child that is diagnosed with Prader-Willi and determine if you see the similarities.