Robert Blue, 53, chained his 15-year-old daughter to her bed on January 12, and beat her with a stick on and off for two days as he thought she was overweight, media said.
Her ordeal started after the father found food in her room. The girl was found beaten and in tears after dragging her bed to her computer and emailing for help. She was subsequently hospitalized, police said.
The father said he wanted to keep the girl who weighs 165 pounds (75 kg) out of the kitchen as he thought she should lose weight. He said he didn't think his actions were a crime.
Blue was charged "with false imprisonment, child endangerment and child abuse." It is not yet clear whether Blue's wife knew about the abuse.
The girl holds records for youth power lifting, and had recently changed weight class.
