Obese 200 Pound Thrid Grader Removed From Cleveland Home

Obese boy removed from home for health reasons

Ohio— An obese, 8-year-old Cleveland boy who was taken from his home by Cuyahoga County social workers was not removed because of his weight but due to heath reasons, according to Pat Riteout, administrator for the county’s Child and Family Services.

According to Riteout, the 200-pound child suffers from sleep apnea, a serious breathing condition, which causes shallow breathing or abnormal pauses in respiration.

“When a child’s medical condition warrants intervention by Child Protective Services we respond,” Riteout said.

Riteout added that she had been working with the overweight boy’s mother for the past year and a half attempting to get his weight down, but it only went up.

The child’s health was in serious jeopardy, according to caseworkers, and nothing was being done to help the boy.

“This is a medical neglect case,” Riteout stated.