Woman Overcomes Obesity to Adopt Child

[Red Lion]

Jul 25, 2009 22:57:03 GMT -5 FrankGotch said:

Great job Britain. I can't wait till this trend catches on in other areas. Want a drivers licenses? Well first thing you'll have to do is quit smoking.

That one actually makes sense, nice one man.

[Red Impact]

Jul 26, 2009 3:20:38 GMT -5 Goldenbane said:

I have to wonder...when does "weight" and "You look like you weigh..." start to factor in? This is why I've voted against every smoking ban there's ever been. Why? First they target the smokers: "You can't smoke in this resturante because some people don't like it. You can't smoke in this work place because some people don't like it. You can't smoke in the privacy of your own home because some people stick their nose in your business and think it's hurting your kids/wife/neighbor/friend/dog/cat/fish/blah/blah/blah."

If we let these pricks go after smokers...we can expect them to come after us next. "You're fat, I'm not giving you insurance because you're a health risk. You're fat, I'm not letting you adopt a child because you may or may not be able to 'keep up' with them. You're fat, I won't sell you a house because you might fall and put a hole in the floor." Next, it WILL be: "You're ugly and you offend my wife/child/me, I won't let you by this car as others might also be offended and have accicents. You've got a beard/long hair, I won't hire you because your hair follicals might float into other people's work space. You're smart, I won't put you in position as my aid because you might develope some radical idea to give back the rights to the people that I've taken away."

People are already subject to higher insurance premiums if they're unhealthily overweight, and possible rejection.

The rest of it is a hell of a slippery slope argument, a pretty laughable one at that.

[Deleted]

I fail to see an issue here personally

The woman weighed 280 pounds, how would she have set a good example to the child as well etc.

Not to say that that has anything to do with her parenting skills obviously

[sryans]

Jul 26, 2009 3:57:24 GMT -5 Janitor From Mars said:

What's wrong with being yourself?

What if that woman had raised the kid like any other kid if she had succeeded the first time?

We don't know what made these folks obese. It could be lack of exercise, poor diet, lethargy, low self-esteem, thyroid issues, etc.

It's not easy to just drop everything and go on a diet. Diets never work. They are unhealthy. If you change your overall diet to cut back or cut out fatty stuff, you should be able to work it off with little effort.

Instead of demonizing folks, a little more empathy would be appreciated.

If you honestly think the reason they wouldn't let her adopt is "She is fat and fat people are gross" than you should probably seriously consider it again. The agency's job is to look out for the child and they felt that with the extra baggage, it would be better to not let her have the kid.

They aren't demonizing anyone, they are looking out for the best interest of the kids.

Would you pick on someone for being handicapped and consider them a "health risk" as well?

Do they let people with down syndrome adopt? I doubt it.

[Confused Mark Wahlberg]

Come on, look at the head of the adoption agency:


"How much does dis lady weigh?"

[Sharpy Snow]

Jul 26, 2009 3:20:38 GMT -5 Goldenbane said:

This is why I've voted against every smoking ban there's ever been. Why? First they target the smokers: "You can't smoke in this resturante because some people don't like it. You can't smoke in this work place because some people don't like it. You can't smoke in the privacy of your own home because some people stick their nose in your business and think it's hurting your kids/wife/neighbor/friend/dog/cat/fish/blah/blah/blah."

You're right. This is unfair. Please continue to blow your lung cancer in to my face. It's ok, I didn't think much to living anyway.


As for the woman, I am going to say "Well Done" on the commitment and the weight loss, especially after already going through a triplet miscarriage. I can actually understand why they wanted her to lose the weight though. I don't consider it discrimination, they are just looking out for the childs best interest.

[Ben Wyatt]

Jul 26, 2009 9:37:29 GMT -5 @cyclonechyno said:

I fail to see an issue here personally

The woman weighed 280 pounds, how would she have set a good example to the child as well etc.

Not to say that that has anything to do with her parenting skills obviously

Not to mention that she's a higher risk for premature death. So, she adopts a child, has a massive heart attack and dies.

Then what?

[Goldenbane]

Jul 26, 2009 12:18:07 GMT -5 Ben Wyatt said:

Jul 26, 2009 9:37:29 GMT -5 @cyclonechyno said:

I fail to see an issue here personally

The woman weighed 280 pounds, how would she have set a good example to the child as well etc.

Not to say that that has anything to do with her parenting skills obviously

Not to mention that she's a higher risk for premature death. So, she adopts a child, has a massive heart attack and dies.

Then what?

So she's lost all that weight...then has a massive heart attack and dies, now what? Or she's in a car accident and is killed?

BTW, all those saying my examples are a stretch/laughable/impossible/dumb/can't happen/ect...all that would have been said if someone had made up this story 20 years ago.

"When they came for the Jews, I didn't speak out, because I wasn't a Jew.
When they came for the Catholics, I didn't speak out because I wasn't Catholic.
When they came for the handicapped, I didn't speak out because I wasn't handicapped.
When they came for the smokers, I didn't speak out because I wasn't a smoker.
When they came for the obese and overweight, I didn't speak out because I wasn't obese or overweight.
When they came for me, I cried for help...but there was no one left to speak out for me."

[Legion]

Seems a good idea to me.

What is the point of granting her a child if she is a) possibly going to die of a heart attack or some other obesity related disease or b) if she can't actually play with and look after the kid if it wants to run about and such.

Adoption is heavily regulated in the UK because many people want to do it. While it's sad that she lost 3 kids herself, her sob story shouldn't mean a jump in the que.

What she was asked to do showed a) she really wanted to adopt and it wasnt just a psychological reaction to losing her own babies and b) that she now has the choice to either go back to how she was, or can continue in a healthier vein.

I agree with this policy. She may have been a brilliant mother when obese, she still will be now, but she'll be a healthier mum.

[Sharpy Snow]

Jul 26, 2009 12:32:15 GMT -5 Goldenbane said:

Jul 26, 2009 12:18:07 GMT -5 Ben Wyatt said:

Not to mention that she's a higher risk for premature death. So, she adopts a child, has a massive heart attack and dies.

Then what?

So she's lost all that weight...then has a massive heart attack and dies, now what? Or she's in a car accident and is killed?

BTW, all those saying my examples are a stretch/laughable/impossible/dumb/can't happen/ect...all that would have been said if someone had made up this story 20 years ago.

"When they came for the Jews, I didn't speak out, because I wasn't a Jew.
When they came for the Catholics, I didn't speak out because I wasn't Catholic.
When they came for the handicapped, I didn't speak out because I wasn't handicapped.
When they came for the smokers, I didn't speak out because I wasn't a smoker.
When they came for the obese and overweight, I didn't speak out because I wasn't obese or overweight.
When they came for me, I cried for help...but there was no one left to speak out for me."

When Hitler Jr. starts a mass genocide of every smoker and obese person in Europe, then you can start comparing them to the Jews.

[LCR, Formerly Blue Nova]

Jul 26, 2009 12:32:15 GMT -5 Goldenbane said:

Jul 26, 2009 12:18:07 GMT -5 Ben Wyatt said:

Not to mention that she's a higher risk for premature death. So, she adopts a child, has a massive heart attack and dies.

Then what?

So she's lost all that weight...then has a massive heart attack and dies, now what? Or she's in a car accident and is killed?

BTW, all those saying my examples are a stretch/laughable/impossible/dumb/can't happen/ect...all that would have been said if someone had made up this story 20 years ago.

"When they came for the Jews, I didn't speak out, because I wasn't a Jew.
When they came for the Catholics, I didn't speak out because I wasn't Catholic.
When they came for the handicapped, I didn't speak out because I wasn't handicapped.
When they came for the smokers, I didn't speak out because I wasn't a smoker.
When they came for the obese and overweight, I didn't speak out because I wasn't obese or overweight.
When they came for me, I cried for help...but there was no one left to speak out for me."

Puh-leese. I believe this violates Godwin's Law. The first to invoke the Nazis loses the argument. Not even in the same ballpark. Not even in the same sport.

What's wrong with being yourself?

What if that woman had raised the kid like any other kid if she had succeeded the first time?

We don't know what made these folks obese. It could be lack of exercise, poor diet, lethargy, low self-esteem, thyroid issues, etc.

It's not easy to just drop everything and go on a diet. Diets never work. They are unhealthy. If you change your overall diet to cut back or cut out fatty stuff, you should be able to work it off with little effort.

Instead of demonizing folks, a little more empathy would be appreciated.

Would you pick on someone for being handicapped and consider them a "health risk" as well?

The thing is that she didn't succeed the first time. Her body rejected her fetuses due to her weight. Nature discriminated in this case and discriminates by making it significantly difficult for obese/overweight women to have successful births.

With an increasing amount of obesity in America, it isn't all about genes. The increasing prevalence is about easy access to high calorie food and sedentary behavior primarily.

And nobody says dieting is easy. Changing a diet to eat quality calories and stay active can be challenging. But it is worth it.

As for demonizing, it seems the British government and those who don't see the discrimination here are getting a fair share of demonizing. Even alluding to similarities between the British government and the Nazis.

[The Line]

Was this lady guaranteed to have a heart attack? No. Do what look like physically fit people have heart attacks and such? Yes they do.


But I agree with the decision, since it is based off science. Obesity does lead to to fatal diseases such as heart disease and also can be a big factor in heart attacks at a younger age. They did it so that there was less of a chance of the child being orphaned or the mother's medical bills becoming so high that she would have to choose between caring for herself or her child.


And some people brought up insurance companies not catering to the obese. Well yeah, that makes sense. Because the key word in that is that they are an insurance COMPANY. The goal of any company is to make money. Like previously stated overweight folks are more prone to health problems. Insurance companies usually don't cover anyone with a pre-existing medical problem, and guess what, Obesity is a recognized medical problem.

[sryans]

Jul 26, 2009 12:32:15 GMT -5 Goldenbane said:

So she's lost all that weight...then has a massive heart attack and dies, now what? Or she's in a car accident and is killed?

That's a flawed argument if I have ever heard one. Hard facts say that being obese can cause serious health problems. If you want to adopt, change your lifestyle.

BTW, all those saying my examples are a stretch/laughable/impossible/dumb/can't happen/ect...all that would have been said if someone had made up this story 20 years ago.

"When they came for the Jews, I didn't speak out, because I wasn't a Jew.
When they came for the Catholics, I didn't speak out because I wasn't Catholic.
When they came for the handicapped, I didn't speak out because I wasn't handicapped.
When they came for the smokers, I didn't speak out because I wasn't a smoker.
When they came for the obese and overweight, I didn't speak out because I wasn't obese or overweight.
When they came for me, I cried for help...but there was no one left to speak out for me."

You know what they say: First it is denying someone the privilege to adopt based on the well-being of a child, next thing you know and you're burning homosexuals at the stake...

Let me counter your ridiculous scenario with one of my own:
They let fatties adopt, then they let axe-murderers adopt. And then aliens invaded.

[Sicho100]

Jul 26, 2009 13:15:20 GMT -5 The Line said:

Was this lady guaranteed to have a heart attack? No. Do what look like physically fit people have heart attacks and such? Yes they do.


But I agree with the decision, since it is based off science. Obesity does lead to to fatal diseases such as heart disease and also can be a big factor in heart attacks at a younger age. They did it so that there was less of a chance of the child being orphaned or the mother's medical bills becoming so high that she would have to choose between caring for herself or her child.


And some people brought up insurance companies not catering to the obese. Well yeah, that makes sense. Because the key word in that is that they are an insurance COMPANY. The goal of any company is to make money. Like previously stated overweight folks are more prone to health problems. Insurance companies usually don't cover anyone with a pre-existing medical problem, and guess what, Obesity is a recognized medical problem.

I completely agree with this post. No, her obesity wouldn't necessarily equal death, but it makes the equation more balanced. Like how I'm sure smokers aren't able to adopt, since they are more likely to die at a younger age than a non-smoking person, like how an obese person is more likely to die at a younger age than a person of an average weight (taking family history out of the equation).

Say she could adopt when obese, then dies 5 years later. Then that leaves a 9 year old without a mother because she wouldn't watch what she ate. Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not saying "obesity = bad." However, I would rather trust a person of an average weight to raise a child than an obese person. It's not discrimination, it's watching out for a child.

[slasher911]

I'm more amazed at some people trying to pass off obesity as almost healthy.

[Janitor From Mars]

If you all want the nanny state to pick up after people you like, wait until they come for you.

I used to be a socialist but nowadays, I'd rather the government stay out of matters like this.

[sryans]

Remember Janitor, this is happening in England, until the civilized world does something like this I don't think there is much to worry about.

In all seriousness, her being denied the right to adopt isn't the government trying to be a dick to the overweight, they are doing it for the good of the child. Honestly, if you don't have enough willpower to lose some weight for the kid, you probably shouldn't be adopting him anyway.

[sunwukong]

Jul 26, 2009 13:02:17 GMT -5 LCR, Formerly Blue Nova said:

Jul 26, 2009 12:32:15 GMT -5 Goldenbane said:

So she's lost all that weight...then has a massive heart attack and dies, now what? Or she's in a car accident and is killed?

BTW, all those saying my examples are a stretch/laughable/impossible/dumb/can't happen/ect...all that would have been said if someone had made up this story 20 years ago.

"When they came for the Jews, I didn't speak out, because I wasn't a Jew.
When they came for the Catholics, I didn't speak out because I wasn't Catholic.
When they came for the handicapped, I didn't speak out because I wasn't handicapped.
When they came for the smokers, I didn't speak out because I wasn't a smoker.
When they came for the obese and overweight, I didn't speak out because I wasn't obese or overweight.
When they came for me, I cried for help...but there was no one left to speak out for me."

Puh-leese. I believe this violates Godwin's Law. The first to invoke the Nazis loses the argument. Not even in the same ballpark. Not even in the same sport.

What's wrong with being yourself?

What if that woman had raised the kid like any other kid if she had succeeded the first time?

We don't know what made these folks obese. It could be lack of exercise, poor diet, lethargy, low self-esteem, thyroid issues, etc.

It's not easy to just drop everything and go on a diet. Diets never work. They are unhealthy. If you change your overall diet to cut back or cut out fatty stuff, you should be able to work it off with little effort.

Instead of demonizing folks, a little more empathy would be appreciated.

Would you pick on someone for being handicapped and consider them a "health risk" as well?

The thing is that she didn't succeed the first time. Her body rejected her fetuses due to her weight. Nature discriminated in this case and discriminates by making it significantly difficult for obese/overweight women to have successful births.

With an increasing amount of obesity in America, it isn't all about genes. The increasing prevalence is about easy access to high calorie food and sedentary behavior primarily.

And nobody says dieting is easy. Changing a diet to eat quality calories and stay active can be challenging. But it is worth it.

As for demonizing, it seems the British government and those who don't see the discrimination here are getting a fair share of demonizing. Even alluding to similarities between the British government and the Nazis.

THAT IS NOT GODWIN'S LAW. UGH!!!!

Sorry, just a pet peeve of mine...But Godwin's Law ONLY states that the longer an online conversation goes, the more likely it is that Nazis will in some way be invoked. He never said anything about that meaning you lose the argument. That was a later addition by someone trying to be cute.

[Thomas Powers of Paine]

Now we'll never get a Youtube video of the kid following her around while playing a tuba.

[Red Impact]

Jul 26, 2009 12:32:15 GMT -5 Goldenbane said:

Jul 26, 2009 12:18:07 GMT -5 Ben Wyatt said:

Not to mention that she's a higher risk for premature death. So, she adopts a child, has a massive heart attack and dies.

Then what?

So she's lost all that weight...then has a massive heart attack and dies, now what? Or she's in a car accident and is killed?

BTW, all those saying my examples are a stretch/laughable/impossible/dumb/can't happen/ect...all that would have been said if someone had made up this story 20 years ago.

"When they came for the Jews, I didn't speak out, because I wasn't a Jew.
When they came for the Catholics, I didn't speak out because I wasn't Catholic.
When they came for the handicapped, I didn't speak out because I wasn't handicapped.
When they came for the smokers, I didn't speak out because I wasn't a smoker.
When they came for the obese and overweight, I didn't speak out because I wasn't obese or overweight.
When they came for me, I cried for help...but there was no one left to speak out for me."

And when posters rolled their eyes because someone re-appropriated a famous poem to try to justify their horrendous argument... I was right there with them.



Should she have been denied based on her weight, I don't know, it depends on how much of an influence it had on her ability to take care of her kid.