The children were taken away from their families due to concerns over their health.
A spokeswoman for the Department of Education said: ‘This is not an issue about children who might be a few pounds overweight. This is about protecting those facing significant and possibly even life-threatening problems.’
Tam Fray, spokesman for the National Obesity Forum and chairman of the Child Growth Foundation told The Mirror: ‘To be allowed to get so obese at such young ages is quite simply child neglect and abuse.’
‘I understand the reluctance of social workers to act until medical professionals have seen the children. But once a care order is obtained, no delay on their part is acceptable.’
‘It is a national tragedy that so many children are now, quite rightly, being taken into care.’
Not everyone agrees with children being taken into care for being obese. Rhian Jones, who is an eating behavioural expert at the College of Contemporary Health says: ‘Removing a child at such a young age may actually perpetuate the problem that needs to be treated.’
‘Obese children commonly see food as a comfort and therefore removing their parental comfort will inevitably take them down the road to their next favoured comfort- food.’
She added: ‘Health visitors and public health schemes are all trying in desperation to address the obesity epidemic, but removing the child from their parent must surely be the last resort.’