Mixed thoughts about this.
Overfeeding a kid is bad, but usually the kid does ask/whine for such foods. Good parents wont give in, lesser parents might. But putting this in the same line as abusing a child, or starving a child ?

>_> i was a fat kid, and im a fat grown up, taking me off my mum would scared me for life though, this is utterly retarded.

indeed it is a thin line. What about children who have a real disease (mental or physical) that causes them to be obese?

I think taking a child away from his home should always be a last resort, but something should be done to prevent dangerously obese children.

Things like this are nothing short of neglect, the only problem is how to solve it without screwing up the kid.

I too was an overweight kid... but you know what? It was my own fault, not my parents. I was very active, but I liked to eat. I used to sneak food all the time while my parents were at work. Were they neglecting me? No. My mother used to get frustrated and talk to me about it though. I take full responsibility. The only thing I wish they had done differently was to say yes when I asked to go to "fat camp" on numerous occasions. What kid volunteers to go there? lol