theres a young man at my school that is 12 years old and he ways over 230 pounds. im 11 years old and only weigh 110

ben, abilene, united states

I first heard of Prader-Willi syndrome by watching a British documentary on the subject. Apparently it renders the afflicted unable to feel satiated, therefore they will eat and eat, to the point of becoming physically ill. Perhaps there is more going on here than bad parenting. However... if it is decided that the boy is simply over eating or being over fed, I still think it would be a huge mistake to take him away from his mom.

Kristin, San Francisco, California / USA

I'm scared of the precedent it would set. How about sending Connor to health classes, and having a CPS worker pick him up to make sure he attends?

L, Camp Lejeune,

I really dont think the answer is to put the young man in care it would only make things worse for the boy and will end up depressed at the thought of being taken away from home. a good solution is taking the mother aside and helping her to change the eating habits he is so used too. Maybe a health expert could visit the house too help instead of people in authority blaming the parents. maybe pay for a health camp for him to visit instead of taking him away from his family which would help him to help himself its never to early to learn.

Miss Cartwright, Oldham, uk

I think it goes deeper than that. Permissiveness is only
one symptom of post-God societies, and Connor
McCreaddie's problems stem from absense of Godly
values on the part of his parents and society, and out-
side of a miracle, nothing is going to be done about
it; Revelations and Jesus Himself said that the end times
would be like this: people would be pleasure-seekers,
lovers of anything but God, etc...Or in other words
"Eat (McCreaddie's case in point), drink and be merry,
for tomorrow we (may) die". Greece, Rome, Baby-
lon and ancient Egypt, among other bygone societies, were like this, living it up while they were still able (and
young enough to do so). Didn't he have any other
life to get other than this one ?

Ken Karpinski, Grand Rapids, United States (MI.)

I am considered overwieght and being overwieght isnt a terrible thing, but I am 18 and weigh less than this poor boy. His mother is either completely selfish or blind to not see that she is killing her child. If he keeps going this way, in only eight years he is 218lbs, then by the time he is 12 he will have a heart attack from the strain on his system. He isnt just 10, 30, 60 pounds overweight he is hundreds of pounds too big. Conner deserves a chance to succeed, he deserves to be put first. This is not about descrimination against fat people, as I have been one all my life, this is saving a CHILD from a pain, sadness, and a premature death. Nip this in the bud now before it is too late!

Brenda , Silverton,

How can you say the child is in control when he's only 7 years old, he's barely learning the difference between right and wrong, let along the importance of a good diet.

Andy, Australia,

connor, i think its okay that your over weight. im 11 years old and i weigh 40 pounds over what my weight should be. just show up for your appointments and find a sport you love and will keep you active and healthy for at least 1 hour a day. youll find your self dropping 10 pounds before you know it... and then another 10 pounds...and so on. just try and commit your self to something you love and that will keep you healthy. GOOD LUCK!!!!!!!!

mckenzie, dix hills, new york

He shouldn't go into care because tax payers don't want to contribute to the care for the child if he was removed from his mother. There are a lot more children with more urgent needs. The mother should be monitored and if they don't turn up for appointments, then the child should be removed.

Class 9Y1Geography, Reading, UK

Sounds as though the child is in full control here, rather than the parent. He needs boundaries, plain and simple.

Lisa, Cardiff, UK