The child at the centre of this obesity case is appearing on our UK TV quite alot, he has his head almost permanently peering at or into a gameboy. I think that kind of behaviour is as much a sign of what is going wrong as his excessive eating.
We never meet or hear from his father, only his mother (fathers being so marginalised in the UK no one seems to bother even wondering where he's gone). The mother isn't the most inspiring individual either I have to tell you, with a face covered in spots, bland expression and little sensible to say (- like "oh the boy is so hungry and demands all this food").
The authorities are apparently holding on to the view that his mother is the best option to look after this boy, but given support to put him on a proper diet.
I would say that this is almost a no win situation - I doubt very much the boy will change his habits very much whilst in his current home, but I doubt even more that taking him into local authority care will be better for him.
All the best, Graham