Police were alerted by 'concerned' doctors, who had treated the overweight child twice in one month.
"The idea that they could take away my son scares me so much. I’m nothing without my kids"
The parents, who are now in danger of losing custody of their son, were arrested on suspicion of child neglect and cruelty.
Speaking with The Sun, they insisted that their son's weight gain was genetic - and that they have tried to keep his size under control.
His mother said: "The idea that they could take away my son scares me so much. I’m nothing without my kids.
"I am chubby and the whole of my husband’s side of the family is big. It’s genetics. You can be genetically fat."
The boy's father added: "He’s always been big. He was born with shovels for hands and spades for feet. Everyone on my side of the family is big there’s nothing we can do about it.
"I only eat occasional kebabs. Our son’s favourite snack is steamed broccoli and he’s still big."
Despite being nearly three times the recommended weight for a boy of his age and height, the child’s mother said his weight does not worry her, revealing his nickname was "wee chubby".
She said: "His weight isn’t that much of a big deal. He uses a Nintendo Wii to stay active and is on a strict diet."
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