A mother in Polk County is worried her son could be taken away because he is severely overweight. Joyce Painter's seven year old son, Justin, weighs 254 pounds. She says the Department of Social Services is threatening to remove him from her home if he doesn't lose weight.
Painter says she first noticed her son's weight gain when he was three, "He played T-ball and soccer, did things just like every other kid, but he was gaining weight." Painter says she's taken Justin to doctor after doctor over the past four years, but nobody has been able to pinpoint the cause of his rapid growth. She's been told it could be genetic, it could be hormonal or it could be his diet. Painter says she's regulated Justin's meals for a while now, "I've got him on three meals a day. A meat and two vegetables, that's it. There's no snacking, I removed all the chips and cookies. I quit buying it." Despite those efforts, Painter says her son continues to gain weight.
Painter says a few weeks ago, she was visited by a case worker from the Polk County Department of Social Services. Painter was shocked at what the representative told her, "They said they had a report that I was feeding my child all the time and that's why he was gaining weight." Painter says that is not the case. DSS would not comment on the situation, citing confidentiality laws. But Painter says DSS told her she had two months to get Justin's weight down, or they would remove him from her home, "I know I'm doing the right thing. It's frustrating because nobody believes me. I do the best I can. If I'm doing something wrong then show me. Come into my home and go through my cabinets, if there's something there that shouldn't be show me, I'll throw it out."
Painter has recently enrolled Justin in a weight management program with a doctor in Columbus. Justin will also start a program next week at Duke University in an effort to bring his weight down. Painter says Justin was also recently tested by a new doctor to see if the cause for his weight gain can be determined.
Justin Painter is just seven years old, but weighs 254 pounds.
Painter says she first noticed her son's weight gain when he was three, "He played T-ball and soccer, did things just like every other kid, but he was gaining weight." Painter says she's taken Justin to doctor after doctor over the past four years, but nobody has been able to pinpoint the cause of his rapid growth. She's been told it could be genetic, it could be hormonal or it could be his diet. Painter says she's regulated Justin's meals for a while now, "I've got him on three meals a day. A meat and two vegetables, that's it. There's no snacking, I removed all the chips and cookies. I quit buying it." Despite those efforts, Painter says her son continues to gain weight.
Painter says a few weeks ago, she was visited by a case worker from the Polk County Department of Social Services. Painter was shocked at what the representative told her, "They said they had a report that I was feeding my child all the time and that's why he was gaining weight." Painter says that is not the case. DSS would not comment on the situation, citing confidentiality laws. But Painter says DSS told her she had two months to get Justin's weight down, or they would remove him from her home, "I know I'm doing the right thing. It's frustrating because nobody believes me. I do the best I can. If I'm doing something wrong then show me. Come into my home and go through my cabinets, if there's something there that shouldn't be show me, I'll throw it out."
Painter has recently enrolled Justin in a weight management program with a doctor in Columbus. Justin will also start a program next week at Duke University in an effort to bring his weight down. Painter says Justin was also recently tested by a new doctor to see if the cause for his weight gain can be determined.
Justin Painter is just seven years old, but weighs 254 pounds.
