A mother who feared she might lose custody of her obese 8-year-old son unless he lost weight was allowed to keep the boy after she made a pact with social workers to safeguard his welfare, according to an Associated Press report.

Connor McCreaddie, of Wallsend in northeastern England, weighs 218 pounds, four times the weight of a healthy child his age.

The story has set off worldwide debate on childhood obesity and whether to blame it on genetics, junk food or bad parenting.

What do you think?

-- Amanda Barrett, amNY.com