Pro Speaker 1: 3 Arguments for the Necessity to Punish Parents, Who Allow Their Children Obesity Happening, Legally
The issue of childhood obesity is an urgent topic for discussion. The American stats show that about 19% of boys and 15% of girls aged from 2 to 19 are obese (Standing Committee on Childhood Obesity Prevention, Food and Nutrition Board, & Institute of Medicine, 2013). Though it is hard to define who may be actually blamed for the inability to control a child’s weight, the parental role remains to be crucial.
It seems to be reasonable and effective to punish parents, whose neglect leads to their children’s obesity. There are three main arguments for such a claim:
- Parents have to take responsibility for their child’s emotional, mental, and physical well-being. If they are not able to meet these expectations, children should be protected by law. For example, small children cannot even understand that their eating disorders and inabilities to use healthy food can make them obese.
- Obesity leads to health problems (Standing Committee on Childhood Obesity Prevention, Food and Nutrition Board, & Institute of Medicine, 2013). If parents are defined as the offenders of a child’s health, the law should punish such criminals and arrest them.
- Many parents admit that obesity is the question of genetics; still, recent investigations prove that genetics cannot be a real issue here and parents should be ready to answer any questions and give numerous explanations (Olson, 2014).
Con Speaker 1: 3 Arguments against the Necessity to Punish Parents, Who Allow Their Children Obesity Happening, Legally
The question of obesity is controversial indeed, and it is wrong to believe that parents are the only ones, who can be blamed for childhood obesity. It is unfair to believe that children become obese just because of their parents’ neglect. There are many other factors leading to weight problems.
- Many parents are eager to provide their children with healthy food, still, the prices are too high or parents’ incomes are too low (Olson, 2014). The government should take care of the possibilities available for children and think about appropriate financial support for child feeding.
- Childhood obesity is a problem that has to be solved by means of numerous interventions at the same time (Lindsay, Sussner, Kim, & Gortmaker, 2006). For example, parents may cooperate with school or kindergarten representatives to control their child feeding.
- Some parents just do not know how to treat their children properly to avoid obesity. If they strive to improve their knowledge and help their children, they should have an access to appropriate social programs. Society should take care of children with obese problems as well.
If children are obese, their parents cannot be punished by law until the reasons of obesity are clearly defined and parental blame is proved.
Crossfire Con-1 Question One
How long should parents be arrested if they are blamed for childhood obesity?
Crossfire Pro-1 Answer One
Sentence should depend on the level of child’s health problems and the abilities to improve a situation. It is not enough to punish parents but make them think about the necessity to take care of their children and treat obesity as a disease.
Pro Speaker 2: 3 Arguments for the Necessity to Punish Parents, Who Allow Their Children Obesity Happening, Legally
- Legal punishment of parents should be based on certain rules and measurements. Parents have to understand their mistakes and change their wrong treatment with a portion of professional help.
- Parents are the only one, who should think about their children dietary details. Even if children are under the temporary control of specialists or grandparents, for example, parents should discuss the diet and the conditions of their children’s staying.
- Parental punishment may perform the precautionary function and help parents avoid making mistakes. For example, if parents know that neglect to their children feeding is punishable, they start thinking how to overcome the problems.
Con Speaker 2: 3 Arguments against the Necessity to Punish Parents, Who Allow Their Children Obesity Happening, Legally
- Stats proved that there are many genetic, environmental, and behavioral factors predetermining the development of childhood obesity (Standing Committee on Childhood Obesity Prevention, Food and Nutrition Board, & Institute of Medicine, 2013). It is impossible for parents to cope with all those factors and take complete responsibility for health problems of their children. Parents should think about the quality of the food used. Still, parents cannot be punishable for the wrong combination of factors that lead to childhood obesity.
- There are some medical conditions that may cause obesity like depression or hypothyroidism (Standing Committee on Childhood Obesity Prevention, Food and Nutrition Board, & Institute of Medicine, 2013). Parents cannot be punished for the problems they have not caused. Law and medicine should properly cooperate to protect parents and children on the necessary level.
- Some parents are afraid to gain control over their children’s nutrition as children start demonstrating their worst traits, anger, and dissatisfaction. Is it necessary to punish people for the desire to keep calm and order in a family and support the interests of their children?
Crossfire Pro-2 Question One
What is a more effective way to encourage parents to take care of their children’s except the legal punishment?
Crossfire Con-2 Answer One
Parents may be informed about the necessity to take care of their children’s health by means of special organizations and social communities that aim at dealing with such problems like obesity, drugs, and alcohol. In addition, good parents know about the importance for their children being healthy and feeding properly. And bad parents or those, who neglect their own children’s health, cannot be stopped even by law.
Pro-1 Speaker Summary
Childhood obesity is a form of parental neglect that has to be punishable by law. People have to understand that when they decide to give a birth to a baby, they take certain responsibilities. It is very important to provide children with proper nutrition and control their weight to avoid health problems. And legal punishment for parents, whose children suffer from obesity, is an appropriate precautionary method to be used.
Con-1 Speaker Summary
Childhood obesity is an important issue for discussion. Children suffer from extra weight because of wrong nutrition, behavior, services, environment, and even some personal problems that may cause depression or unwillingness to follow certain norms. Still, it is wrong and inappropriate to blame parents only and make them legally responsible for their children’s obesity. They should take some responsibility for their children’s problems with weight. But it is too much to make it a legally dependent issue.
Grand Crossfire Questions and Answers
Pro-1 question: If parents do nothing in case their children use drugs, they should be legally punished. Why is it wrong to do the same with childhood obesity as overeating is also a kind of drug for people?
Con-1 answer: It is not wrong, it is just too much. There are many other methods to struggle against parental neglect in regards to their children’s obesity.
Con-1 question: Who should take care of children, when their parents are arrested due to their neglect?
Pro-1 answer: It is not necessary to arrest parents with obese children but think about other types of legal punishment to underline parents the urgency of the problem.
Pro-2 question: If parents do not understand the threat of obesity for their children, how is it possible to explain them their responsibilities?
Con-2 answer: When parents cannot understand such truth, there are no guarantees that legal punishment can change their minds.
Con-2 question: What about the responsibilities of other organizations and people, who provide children with care?
Pro-2 answer: Parents remain to be the responsible in this situation, and it is their task to think about the conditions under which childhood obesity can be under control.
Pro-1 question: Is it fair when parents ask for medical help and blame doctors for inabilities to provide in-time medical services for children, who have serious problems with health because of obesity?
Con-1 answer: It is not fair, still, doctors are always ready to explain when their interference is too late and prove that their actions cannot change the situation because of previous parental neglect.
Con-1 question: Why is legal punishment regarded as the only possible means to protect children from obesity?
Pro-1 answer: It is not the only one. Still, it is one of the most effective, and the government should use it as a strong precautionary method to make parents think better about their children’s nutrition.
Pro-2 question: Who can protect obese children’s rights?
Con-2 answer: Obese children should not differ from ordinary children and ask for legal help and support the way other children do it in case of emergency.
Con-2 question: If parents are eager to promote healthy eating for their children but do not have opportunities, who may help them?
Pro-2 answer: Parents should not use their inabilities as an excuse for their wrong treatment with children. They know that child care is not an easy task, and they should be ready for challenges and think about the most appropriate ways for caring their children.
Pro-2 Speaker Last Shot
Parents are the only people, who can help children gain knowledge about life, its needs, and measurements. If parents neglect the necessity to explain and avoid obesity problems, they have to be punished as they start killing their children at the early stage. Parents should be afraid to break this rule and think about the consequences of legal punishment.
Con-2 Speaker Last Shot
Some children just cannot stop eating and gain control over their desire to eat. They are even ready to cheat to get the necessary portion of food. This is why it is not necessary for parents to be afraid to be legally punished for their children’s obesity. It is important for parents to have time and understand how to help their children and avoid obesity problems.
Reference List
Lindsay, A.C., Sussner, K.M., Kim, J., & Gortmaker, S. (2006). The role of parents in preventing childhood obesity. The Future of Children, 16(1), 169-186.
Olson, S. (2014). Childhood obesity blamed on parents: UK couple arrested because son became obese; considered child neglected and abuse. Medical Daily. Web.
Standing Committee on Childhood Obesity, Food and Nutrition Board, & Institute of Medicine. Challenges and opportunities for change in food marketing to children and youth. Washington, DC: National Academies Press, 2013.