Obese children ?may be put in care?
A DUNDEE couple yesterday claimed their six children will be taken from them and placed in care unless they can bring their weight under control within three months.
Social workers are understood to be ready to take action to safeguard the health of the children, three of whom are considerably overweight.
Their parents have been told to send the children, the oldest of whom is 12, to dance and football lessons to shed pounds?or risk losing them.
Causing social workers most concern is the weight of the 12-year-old child, who is more than 16 stone, and another three-year-old child who weighs four stone.
The family claim the slimming deadline was set at a meeting with child protection officers last Thursday.
They say they were warned that all six children could be taken into care unless significant improvements are seen by June.
Social workers have allegedly even labelled the 21-month-old child, who weighs 26lbs, overweight.
However, the parents are adamant that their children are only displaying puppy fat and believe it will be shed as they grow older.
Their solicitor, Kathleen Price, has also raised the spectre of another Dundee family having a child taken away because of a weight problem.
Of the six children, she said, ?I believe obesity is the main driving force in this case. This family is not alone.?
A spokesman for Dundee City Council said they were not able to comment on individual child protection issues.
The city council?s social work convener, Councillor Helen Wright, was unavailable for comment yesterday.