In fight against obesity, Puerto Rico weighs a fine for parents of overweight children

[WestVirginiaRebel]

Fox News:

Puerto Rico is weighing a measure that some lawmakers feel may be the solution to childhood obesity – a fat fine.

 

The bill, introduced by Sen. Gilberto Rodríguez Valle on Monday, calls for hitting the parents of obese children with a fine if their offspring’s excess weight seems to arise from their neglect, reports El Nuevo Día.

 

Sen. Jose Luis Dalmau defended the measure as "necessary for society" and argued that there should be ramifications for parents of children whose weight gets out of control.

 

“Here in 'La Isla del Encanto' there are no consequences,” he said, according to El Nuevo Día. “The obese child is a health problem that can become a financial burden because the child can develop diabetes, heart ailments and other diseases.”

 

The bill calls for education officials to identify obese children and educate parents about its detriment on growth and health. If, after six months, education officials determine that the child’s condition has not improved, a staffer can refer the case to child-family services authorities as one involving abuse or mistreatment.

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Fatheads fine fat kids' folks.