The latest case to make headlines concerns a South Carolina mom Jerri Gray who lost custody of her 14-year-old, 555-lb. son in May. She was arrested after missing a court date to examine whether she should retain custody after doctors had expressed concern about her son's weight to social services. The boy is currently living with his aunt, and his mother is facing criminal child-neglect charges.  Gray's case has gained national attention as the latest in which parents of obese children are accused of neglect and endangerment. State courts in Texas, Pennsylvania, New York, New Mexico, Indiana and California have examined the issue, reports USA Today, citing a 2008 report published by the Child Welfare League of America. Such cases are difficult to prosecute because most state laws require a child's health be in imminent danger for criminal charges to be filed. In the 2007 New York case, an adolescent girl who weighed 261 pounds was ordered to attend nutritional counseling, gym workouts and cooking classes.




Another case held the issue of a 90-pound 3-year-old girl. Her parents had physical disabilities, little money and difficulty controlling her weight. Last year, at age 12, she weighed 400 pounds and had developed diabetes, cholesterol problems, high blood pressure and sleep apnea. Several other cases in recent years — in California, New Mexico, Texas and New York, as well as Canada — have garnered attention because a child's obesity resulted in loss of custody.