Is Childhood Obesity a Child Protection Concern?

NELSON, Peter, BISSELL, Paul, HOMER, Catherine, POLLARD, Lee and POWELL-HOYLAND, Vanessa (2020). Is Childhood Obesity a Child Protection Concern? The British Journal of Social Work.

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Abstract

Abstract Childhood obesity is a key public health concern. Obesity has an impact on morbidity and mortality, child development, and has links to child sexual abuse. The costs of childhood obesity on the health service and society are well recognised. Whether childhood obesity should also be a child protection concern has divided commentators and professionals. They pose a juxtaposition questioning whether childhood obesity is a consequence of neglect and obese children should potentially be removed from parents who do not seek to reduce their child’s weight, whilst expressing resistance to a role focused on bodily surveillance. This research sought to identify existing practice, through interviews (N23) and focus groups (N3:24) with key professional stakeholders, from social care, health and education, in one area in the UK. The research aimed to explore the decision-making, views and experiences of those working with obesity and the child protection system. The data were subject to Framework Analysis. Key findings include multi-agency working, personal and professional standpoint, and the complex and nuanced impact of individual and agency thresholds on practice. The research demonstrates how the tensions surrounding a child protection paradigm impact on individual and agency practice, potentially inhibiting the support offered to service users.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Social Work; 1607 Social Work; 1608 Sociology; 1701 Psychology
Identification Number:	https://doi.org/10.1093/bjsw/bcaa100
SWORD Depositor:	Symplectic Elements
Depositing User:	Symplectic Elements
Date Deposited:	07 Sep 2020 11:32
Last Modified:	02 Sep 2022 01:18
URI:	https://shura.shu.ac.uk/id/eprint/27170

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