BUCHAREST (AFP) - Romanian authorities have taken a seven-year-old boy weighing more than 100 kilogrammes (220 pounds) out of his parents custody so doctors can help him lose weight, officials said Wednesday.



"We've taken charge of him for an unlimited period. He'll be put on a regime of strict diet and physical exercise by doctors" in a special care centre, said a spokeswoman for the child protection agency in the county of Botosani.

The boy, born to low-income parents who fed him mainly on bread and lard, was admitted to hospital two weeks ago suffering from respiratory and cardiovascular problems.

The media here have recently reported a number of cases of obesity among Romanian children. Last month, parliament adopted a "healthy food" law banning junk food from school canteens and shops on school premises.