New limitations on adopting from China?

Question

I just read that there are limitations on who can adopt a baby from China. One of those restrictions is that the couple adopting must be under a certain body mass index (no overweight people can adopt). There are other limitiations but this is the one that popped out at me the most. I've been overweight in the past and do not think that has any bearing on how much I would love my child or take care of him/her.

Am I missing something? Is this just another form of discrimination?

Answer 1

I agree with you. Their concern is that someone extremely overweight will die young. Of course no one knows when their life will end you could be a car crash and die.  They also don’t allow any visible disfigurements, no disabilities of any kind no amputees, no one in a wheelchair. Some of it I find ridicules if you suffer an accident and are severely burned on your arm that is not going to make you any less of a good parent. Lets say you were in the war and lost a leg again that is not going to make one any less of a decent parent.

I find it very sad how so many here discriminated against overweight people.   As the OP said there are many factors that play into someone’s weight issues. My mom use to work with a lady who was a big girl (weighted 240), this woman went to the Y 3 or 4 times a week worked out did water aerobics. Despite her size her doctor said she had the heart of a 25 year old, and at the time she was in her late 40’s.  Sometimes exercise and good eating are not enough. Yes thin parents can have overweight kids. Overweight parents can have skin kids.

Answer 2

I understood your question in the light you asked it in. And I did not find it insulting. From what I understand you are asking about weight issues and adoption, not trying to feel entitled to a child. People are quite sensitive today lol.

I have no intention of adopting from overseas. I adopted a sibling group from foster care in my city.

I have also wondered what weight has to do with it as well. I am overweight and would not have been able to adopt from China. Interesting one of the most common reasons of infertility is Polycycstic Ovary Syndrome which causes obesity as glucose can not be absorbed by the body correctly.

Now, even though, I am overweight, I can still run and play with my children, I am not lazy, I do not have high blood pressure, etc.

I would like to know the basis behind the desision made by some countries to add a weight restriction.

AND YES I understand that it is their right to make any restrictions they want. And yes I understand that it is about the kids, not the parents...however that wasn't the question was it? The question was why and is it discriminatory.

ETA: Ah yes Independent! How shameful to have a parent who loves you, supports you, and is not rich, but fat. Wow! Your educated response astounds me! Is that why you decided not to adopt? Incase you get a "fat" kid???

Wow! You know, I am neither rich or skinny, but I sure the heck work my butt off for my kids. I spend everyday, all day dealing with RADS, dealing FIRST HAND with the effects of adoption on a disturbed child who is trying his hardest to heal. I bet if you asked him if he was ashamed of me, he would most certianly disagree with you. I also teach him that ALL shapes, sizes and races are capable and beautiful. My guess is that is not something your future kids will be learning.

Answer 3

There's something that you need to understand about intercountry adoptions.

The country in question has the right to set whatever criteria/requirements they feel is important.  They are not obliged to follow US social rules about discrimination, nor should they be.  

South Korea had a BMI restriction on adoptive parents for quite awhile.  China isn't the first country to do this.  Some countries only allow married couples.  Some countries only allow people with documented infertility issues.  Some countries require APs to travel.  Some require travelling twice.  Some don't require it at all.  None of these directly impact how good of a parent people will be.  

But bottom line, it's up to the government of the country to determine what they feel is important.  Whether those requirements seem unimportant or discriminatory to us is immaterial.

Answer 4

In your perspective, I think it is extremely discriminatory.

In the perspective of the first commenter, I can also see how they might find your question insulting.

You came off sounding like you were planning to adopt. The sentence which implies this is "any bearing on how much I would love *my child*."

And then it seemed that you were conveying a complaint about the weight restriction that China has placed on its adoption processes rather than how important it is for a child to get a home.

It's about the kids - not about the parents.

Independent: [I would be pissed if I was adopted because my mom didn't have money and was placed with an obese a-parent that didn't have much money]

You're just looking for a way to insult the OP. -_- Ridiculous. Stop attacking so much.

Answer 5

I can't begin to tell you how offensive your question is - you sound like you're irritated that there are governments who are putting restrictions on how you should shop for "your" child.

It's not your child.  And they're not made-to-order for you.

If the Chinese government allows more adoptions, the only ethical thing they can do is to place those children in homes where they will have the best parenting.  Obesity is the fault of a person; a correctable fault, but a fault nonetheless. It puts that child at risk because the parent does not deal with healthy eating issues.

Well done to the Chinese government.

Answer 6

Who wants a fatty for a mom?

I suppose if you want to adopt you'll eat less and move more--that's all it takes.  Discipline.

As the radio host Dr. Dean Edell says, "There are no overweight people on deserted islands". Not much food=no fat.

And ask yourself this--you have a choice: you can adopt a normal-sized kid or a fat one--which would you choose?

Yeah, I thought so.

Answer 7

Fair or unfair is moot....

Bottom line: their country, their rules.

Answer 8

Its about the children bottom line.

They should be placing the children with the most fit parents as possible as well as ones that are easier to acclimate into. Thats emotionally, mentally, physically, and financially.

I would be pissed if I was adopted because my mom didn't have money and was placed with an obese a-parent that didn't have much money. How embarrassing and uncomfortable especially when the child is  from a different race and/or culture.   Have a pity party and then get over it, its not about your needs.

Answer 9

International adoption is undergoing some major changes at this time.  China has been placing a large number of children through international adoption.  They have to have some way to reduce the number of applications and this is just another way.  The government in China has to be able to catch up and get out from under the piles of paperwork.  This basically helps buy them some time buy eliminating a portion of the population that may want to apply.  They can remove that restriction at a later date.  As adoptive families we are subject to any restrictions that a country enforces.

Answer 10

I certainly don't think someone's weight would have any bearing one their LOVE for a child, however, if they were morbidly obese and incapacitated... there could be a problem with their ability to care for a child, especially for a young one.

China is China; they're allowed to make their own rules.  We can't do much about that...  except respect it (or not).

Answer 11

I know they have introduced new restrictions.  The demand for the abandoned girls makes them able to be more choosy about who adopts them.  They want what is best for them but do not understand discrimination.  They do physical health checks before you go to university or marry in China; remember they do not have the best human rights record!

Answer 12

These new regulations were put into effect in the spring of 2007, and yes, BMI is one of the factors.  However, you would have to be obese, not just a little overweight, for it to be so high that it excluded you from adoption.  While we might not agree with this rule, I guess their view on it is that obesity causes many health problems.

It is not really discrimination, because it is the rules of another country and we have to follow them.  They are just trying to implement ways of making sure the adopted children are going to be in the healthiest, safest, most stable homes they can.  Since it is not just "You can not adopt because you are fat" and there is a reason behind the regulation, it would not be viewed as discrimination, even in the US.

EDITED TO ADD: These regulations are made VERY CLEAR.  Most people would find out the rules before contacting the agency, and even if they had not the agency would make them aware of it.  It is not as i fyou are going to get there and they are going to say "No, you are too fat".