I could probably give some insight on this one as it pertains to me pretty well. I was always a fat kid growing up, I actually can't remember a time when I was skinny because by the time I was in Pre-K I was already overweight. By the time I was 9 I was obese and by the time I was 11 it was out of control. Around the age of 13 I'd say I finally realized it was a problem but I was already so far overweight that it was pretty overwhelming for me to take control of. My parents fed me absolute shit food and refused to buy me healthier food so I had to work with it. I almost feel like my parents tried to brainwash me a little bit because every time I would lose a little weight they would do things to my food to add up the calories. I failed to lose the weight from the ages of 13-17, but I honestly can't give a definitive opinion on if it's my parents fault or not. Part of me says that they did what they could to make me fat, but the other part of me just says that it's fat logic and I shouldn't have been such a fat fuck and made excuses. Needless to say though when I turned 18 and started working and buying my own foods I lost 85 pounds over the course of 8 months. I guess I can say it's a little bit of both. I think it's child abuse to let a kid get fat and overweight but if the kid doesn't want to be a fat ass he will find a way overcome it.