Two teenagers placed in foster care after weight loss plan fails

Family court judge says parents failed to help severely overweight children and did not understand worry of West Sussex social services

Two teenagers have been removed from their parents' care after social services raised concerns about their weight to a family court judge. The judge, Gillian Ellis, ruled that the children from Sussex be taken into long-term foster care. She described the case as very sad and unusual".

Social services staff at West Sussex county council had told a family court judge about their concerns. The local authority had provided Fitbits (fitness trackers) and paid for gym membership for the family, who had also signed up to Weight Watchers.