Stories like this just make me crazy. My child is underweight due to her microprematurity, and her doctors have told me that she could possibly always be. To compensate, we have followed their advice and fed her things like whole milk and cheese to try to help her gain weight. This is a real medical reason to monitor a child’s food.

Worrying that your child could become obese if you feed him or her, however, is not a medical excuse to withhold food from a child! It is abuse, plain and simple. As children are growing, they need nutrients to develop brain cells (particularly good fats) as well as the rest of their bodies. To not provide them with this is worse than negligent. Read more about Family Charged with Negligence for Underfeeding Child