BEIJING — An 18-month-old girl in China weighing 42 pounds is taking childhood obesity to a new and tragic level.

Her mother Feng says she can’t understand why Dan Dan weighs so much, although the Daily Mail also quotes her as saying, “She has a big appetite. Each meal she must eat nearly a big bowl of rice and drink a lot of water.”

Dan Dan had a normal weight at birth, and their older daughter is a healthy weight.

The couple say they’re desperate to know if there’s a medical reason for the unceasing weight gain, but so far doctors haven’t been able to find an answer. — SG