What Role Should the State Play in Tackling Childhood Obesity?

Childhood obesity has become increasingly prevalent throughout the developed world, so much so that politicians and policy makers have decided that action needs to be taken. Obese children are more likely to become obese adults and obese adults have a greater chance of developing health problems that cost the state in terms of healthcare provision and through their reduced tax contributions. It is therefore in the best interests of wider society to ensure that youngsters learn to lead a lifestyle that will enable them to maintain their ideal weight and prevent the risk of potential health problems later on in life.

Politicians are in a difficult position, though, as in a liberal society individuals have the right to live their lives however they want, if it doesn't affect others in an adverse way, without the threat of state intervention. When it comes to obese children, though, it could be said that their parents' behaviour is having an adverse impact on their quality of life and that the state therefore needs to intervene. Young children, in particular, do not have the resources to go out and buy junk food, nor do they have the knowledge that is required to make the right choices for a healthy life.

Parents are supposed to guide their children and encourage them to make the right choices, so that they develop good habits that they can take with them into the future. When this doesn't happen, there are occasions when representatives of the state feel that it is necessary to intervene in family life. When a child is so overweight that he gets out of breath after walking only a few steps and avoids school as much as possible because of the constant bullying he receives, the school or social services may get into contact with the parents. After all, it is parents' duty to ensure their children are well-fed and healthy.

In a rich, developed country it is almost unthinkable that a child should go hungry, but by the same token, it is surely wrong to overfeed a child, especially when doing so is likely to have a detrimental impact on his physical and emotional development. There have been instances where social services have threatened to take obese children away from their parents, in the belief that taking them away is in their best interests. This hardly seems likely, though, when children have such a strong attachment to their parents who may not even realise that their weight is such a big problem.

Children may have picked up bad habits from their parents, but it is unlikely that parents willingly 'abuse' their children by overfeeding them and avoiding the issue of their weight. It may be that it is easier to avoid such a sensitive issue, especially if they have difficulties controlling their own weight and lack the knowledge to do something about it. Surely, when it comes to the role of the state in tackling childhood obesity, there should be more emphasis on educating parents, so that they know how to deal with their children's weight problem, rather than trying to punish them and, in doing do, punishing the children.