Respected medical group recommends removing seriously obese children from their home.

A suggestion from the American Medical Association to take obese children away from their parents is coming under fire. Parents say it's just not right but some experts say they are not really talking about normal obese cases.

It's been called an epidemic and the article in the Journal of the American Medical Association has a suggestion for treating obese children: it says in the extreme cases placing them temporarily in foster care may be more ethical than obesity surgery. The commentary has sparked criticism.

Dr. Donald Schwarz, Philadelphia Health Commissioner, says "we're talking about children who have not only the health issues, but who have parents whose behavior is seen as neglectful."

Dr. Donald Schwarz, a Philadelphia deputy mayor and the city's health commissioner, explains extreme cases can be defined in three ways: a child who is overly obese, has medical complications and whose parents have been deemed intentionally neglectful. He says only then the issue of foster care may be raised. He adds, in Philadelphia, the Department of Human Services, for example, would only remove a child in danger.

Dr. Schwarz says "in a case where we believe a parent is being neglectful, we would always consider whether or not that parent is an appropriate caregiver for a child "

Pediatrican Dr. Denise Baker says "I'm seeing it every day more and more however what is the real issue here. The issue is education."

Pediatricians like Dr. Denise Baker, who has been practicing for nearly 20 years, wonders if parents are truly neglecting their children or simply uneducated.

Dr. Baker says "we have to really go back to basics, eating meals at the table having healthy snacks around- go back to basics and prevention."