(PCM) The Puerto Rican senate is currently trying to pass legislation that would allow the parents of obese children to be fined by the government if it is discovered they are not feeding their children both healthy and nutritious.
One of the bill’s sponsors claims that the new bill is only trying to “improve children’s well-being and help parents make healthier choices.”.
The way it works is that educators would begin identifying obese children and then work very closely with the parents to help the children lose weight.
The proposed bill goes on to state that if the educator determines that no progress has been made in a six month time period than the educator can refer the case to child family services much the same as a child abuse case.
If another six months goes by and yet again no improvement to the child’s weight is reported the family can then be charged a fine in the amount of $500 and then up to $800 if an additional six months goes up with no changes.
Many people have expressed both concern and outrage over the proposed bill calling it both “unfair” and “superficial” and of course does not factor in situations where medical complications or genetic issues are a factor.
Some people in Puerto Rico fully support the bill, as Puerto Rico has a child obesity rate of 28% versus on 18% in The States.
