UK officials may take 4 obese kids into custody

[September 06, 2011]  LONDON (AP) -- Scottish officials say they may take four heavy children away from their parents after warnings to help their kids trim down have apparently failed.

The children are aged 1 to 11. The parents are obese and have three older children who are also heavy. For the past two years, the family has lived in government housing and had their eating habits scrutinized.

Last week, officials in Dundee told the family their four youngest children could be taken into foster care or adopted. A government spokesman said they would act in the children's best interests.

In the U.S., there have been several cases where obese children have been taken into care after their parents couldn't help them lose weight.

[Associated Press]

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