[monster]

It seems to me there's a vital step missing in the process of helping this boy and his family. The mother is clearly aware of the problem and making attempts to do something (albeit unsuccessful and perhaps even half-hearted ones), but the authorities are now threatening a care order because they have missed countless appointments.

Could the mountain not go to Mohammed in this case? Couldn't the nutritionists etc. visit them? It's hard enough to make a regularly-sized eight-year-old go somewhere they don't want to. What is she going to do if he point blank refuses to get up and go to the appointments? Employ a fork-lifter? The boy clearly doesn't seem to be aware of the seriousness of the problem -he's worried about the names he's being called, not the fact that he is likely to spend the rest of his short life in a great deal of physical discomfort.

I worry that if they take the boy from his family, whatever the problem is that causes him to over eat (low self esteem, attention-seeking, whatever) might be exacerbated. "I'm so worthless even my mum didn't want me" type thing.

It is child abuse, and the authorities clearly need to step up their action, but taking him into care? Not sure.

Perhaps the TV company could pay for a "food guard/personal trainer" to move in with the family for a month and film the progress?