Does anyone else have an overweight tween/youth?

I think if his dr isnt concerned, then i wouldnt be too worried about it. It is very common for kids to pack on the pounds/eat a ton and then have a growth spurt. Its like their body is preparing itself for the growth spurt.

However, i do think you should continue keeping healthy options in the house. Have him go grocery shopping with you to pick out healthy options that he likes.


Don't nag him about his eating habits because he will just get defensive. Also, don't compare him to his sister. They are two different people with different genders, body types, ages, etc.

I was a fat kid and my parents were always on me about loosing weight. As a teen, I developed an eating disorder that left me in the hospital.

Set a good example by eating healthy and working out yourself, and don't keep junk food in the house. Encourage the whole family to get involved in physical activities and making/planning healthy meals together.

[/quote]
"Does he like using the scale? My daughter does. She thinks it's "fun" (I beg to differ). But I keep my eye on her that way and when she asks if she can use the scale, I make sure I am there to see the number. She honestly doesn't even know what the number means but just likes to see it come up in the big blue window and jump around after seeing it. Your son is a bit older though and would probably know what you are looking for. But if you don't think that would get him down, maybe try doing that for a few months."
[/quote]

Thats funny my five year old and even 18m old think it is funny to step on the scale. They see mommy doing it so they think it is fun.

OP I would just try to get him to eat healthier. Have him help you in planning those meals and snacks. Keeping him involved in the planning process might help him realize "I can do this."

Good luck.

They do pack on some weight right before they go through a growth spurt but helping him set up healthy habits now will definitely set him up for a healthier future. Keeping him active will obviously help; active video games, outdoor activities, enrolled in sports, etc. You said you want to remove at least 50% of the processed stuff from your home, do you cook from scratch? My son is almost 13 and I have had him in the kitchen quit a bit helping and learning to cook. He's gotten much more interested in eating healthy foods since he started cooking them. For example, he likes granola but I won't buy most of the stuff they sell in the store because of additives, processing and in our case we're gluten free. So I found him a simple recipe and the first time through he made it as directed. After that I gave him the freedom to tweak the recipe to his liking and now he makes the most amazing granola! He took it on a Boy Scout hike/campout and convinced the other boys to try some. After that they appointed him the bringer of granola on all campouts, they loved it that much! Now his troop plans on yogurt and granola for a hiking snack or camp breakfast.

Getting him involved in food prep and giving him some control over how the food is prepared and what he's eating will make you allies instead of him feeling like you're taking something away from him. We joke that our kids aren't "picky", they're "foodies". They love vegetables, quinoa and whole grains and detest things like mac and cheese, nuggets and fish sticks (which is good because we can't eat them now that we're gluten free!) It was a slow transition but we do get used to what we eat most often.

Sorry for all the rambling! Just make sure you're focusing on everyone being healthy and not singling him out for "weight issues". If the whole family is concentrating on being healthier in activities and food he won't feel like there is something wrong with him.

"Does he like using the scale? My daughter does. She thinks it's "fun" (I beg to differ). But I keep my eye on her that way and when she asks if she can use the scale, I make sure I am there to see the number. She honestly doesn't even know what the number means but just likes to see it come up in the big blue window and jump around after seeing it. Your son is a bit older though and would probably know what you are looking for. But if you don't think that would get him down, maybe try doing that for a few months."
[/quote]

Thats funny my five year old and even 18m old think it is funny to step on the scale. They see mommy doing it so they think it is fun.

OP I would just try to get him to eat healthier. Have him help you in planning those meals and snacks. Keeping him involved in the planning process might help him realize "I can do this."

Good luck.
[/quote]

LOL, that is funny! Kids are so innocent. They don't know one way or another! I make sure my daughter doesn't get caught up in the hype though of weighing herself and just sees it as fun. I don't want to instill vanity into her, but health. Seems like she has the picture.

I also agree with keeping him involved in the planning process of his meals. Just like myself, I refuse to totally restrict everything from my daughter's eating habits. The only thing she absolutely cannot have is soda. Everything else is fair game in my book (in moderation)! She knows this as well. Try to mostly instill portion control and not just what to eat but how much he should eat.

Does he like using the scale? My daughter does. She thinks it's "fun" (I beg to differ). But I keep my eye on her that way and when she asks if she can use the scale, I make sure I am there to see the number. She honestly doesn't even know what the number means but just likes to see it come up in the big blue window and jump around after seeing it. Your son is a bit older though and would probably know what you are looking for. But if you don't think that would get him down, maybe try doing that for a few months.

Thanks for those replies.
He has been on the scale, but I don't want the focus to be on that. My mom took me to Weight Watchers at age 10!! Yes you read that right... I have lived my life since age 10 a slave to that stupid scale. I don't want to do that to him. I want him to think about healthy body, healthy food, being active, etc... not what that stupid scale says. I see me in him so much and I just want him to be a happy, healthy kid. I put veggies and fruit out at every meal but I can't make him eat it. I don't want to have a power struggle with food. Tonight we are going to sit down with a weekly plan and talk (again) about the Canada Food Guide and what activity we can add to his day. Today he's at home with my husband and has been ice skating on the pond behind our house for over 3 hours... :-)

I agree that you shouldn't make him use a scale. I understand that he is a bit older and he understands more than my daughter would. He wouldn't see the scale as fun at all. I am very sorry that you were made to feel that way at 10 years old. I cannot fathom making my daughter feel that way. That is why we never mention weight, skinny, fat, big, small, none of those words around her. She doesn't need to know what all of that is at her age.

Because little girls are more body conscience, I refuse to make her, at 8 years old feel "less than." But I have to differ with you on one thing.....I control what my daughter eats when she is home. If I put salmon, broccoli, and sweet potatoes on the table and she only picks up the sweet potatoes and salmon, I remind her that in our home, you will eat your vegetables so you will grow into a healthy, strong young woman. At 10 years old, I do not think that one of his choices should be what he will and will not eat. Others may disagree, but I stand behind that. That is the way I was raised and my parents let me and my siblings know that it's their way when it comes to our nutrition and health until we are old enough to buy our own food. I swear that worked until I moved out!

You can have him choose, he can either eat his vegetables first or last but he will eat them and you control that at his age. He might throw a tantrum or surprise you and eat them. But that is the rule at my dinner table and at 8 years old, my daughter fully undertands that you can choose whether you want thes veggies in your belly first or last, but you aren't getting up from this table until your vegetables are gone.

You can have him choose, he can either eat his vegetables first or last but he will eat them and you control that at his age. He might throw a tantrum or surprise you and eat them. But that is the rule at my dinner table and at 8 years old, my daughter fully undertands that you can choose whether you want thes veggies in your belly first or last, but you aren't getting up from this table until your vegetables are gone.

I always put carrots and cucumbers on the table with the meal (fruit too which is not an issue in our house) and I always tell them they need to eat some veggies with their meal. Sometimes he refuses and I don't push it, but we are going to change that and start pushing it... and cut down on seconds and thirds. I also researched healthy granola bars and muffins, etc. and bought all the ingredients. We are making our own from here on, no more storebought kind. :-) He does like helping cook and I often cook from scratch. He just seems to eat WAY too much.

I think the most important thing is just health at his age. But that sounds like a great idea...push him into healthier eating habits by explaining the benefits of picking fruits and veggies first and then his meat and a starch if they are options as well. Refusing to eat what you know is good for him should not be an option at his young age. I know sometimes it just doesn't feel worth it to go back and forth with a child, but I care about my daughter's health more than I care about a tantrum she may or may not throw because I forced her to eat one serving of cabbage. Eventually, he will not even need you to tell him to eat his veggies. But try to instill it in him now.

Also, I think cutting out seconds and thirds is a good idea as well. If I can fill up and be satisfied on one plate of fruit, veggies, and fish; I don't see why a child needs second and third helpings. One of my friends were just asking me this a few weeks ago. She wanted to know if she should feed her boys seconds if they ask. Of course children will want seconds of the high caloric, starchy, items, so I said if it were me, I wouldn't allow them to have seconds. Children are small little beings and do not need more food than an adult eats or more than their body burns at 6:30 in the evening. Maybe seconds and thirds on special occasions but definitely not a constant, daily act.

Hope this helps.

I have two teen boys and a tween. My 19 and 16 yo are healthy weight; 6"4/185 lb 5"11/140 lb (he is slightly underweight but does a lot of sports and HATES to eat too much ) BUT my D is overweight and has been her entire life. I have had her in for testing for metabolism, thyroid, etc because she gains weight quite easy. I also suspected a food allergy, and still do-so try to eliminate wheat, etc.
However, I feel your pain when trying to control the eating habits of a ten yr old. My girl is 4"11 and 120-ish pounds. Finding her clothing is expensive and frustrating. She has healthy meals with us as all of us don't do take out, but she likes to try to out eat her older brothers. She does not have the sugar issues, but does have the volume issues. I started giving her a smaller plate, and explaining the portions to her. I think as adults it is easy for us to forget what is common knowledge to us, is not to them.
Also, I would not use the food guide, IMHO, as it still recc. a lot of carb and bread. I am wondering if your son is sensitive to sugar/sugar addicted as he has a voracious appetite as you said, combined with wanting a lot of sugar.

I would try experimenting with a lower-sugar diet. No sugar cereals in the house-oatmeal or bran for breakfast, then veg n dip with lower-sugar fruit, yogurt and a low-carb wrap for lunch. No buns, bread, etc during the day. Family meal time he gets portions and no seconds for at least 20 minutes. Plus, lots of flavoured water if he hates water. He may need more protein in his diet and I would just ask him if he feels hungry all the time-and talk him through the reasons why. Ask him why he thinks he is hungry and ask him if you both can work on experimenting on some things that might help the hunger not be so bad. It has got to be frustrating being that age and going through that.

Also, if he is emotional eating or boredom eating, maybe have him visit a dietician in the area-and my GP was not very helpful either...and this might help.

Finally, if he is into video games, tv, pc, ipod, etc as most kids that age are, I would definitely remove those and start a reward system instead. Like, he has to play outside for a half hour, go skating, help with housework, etc...the goal being he gets a half hour of exercize at home...then he gets an hour of pc/tv,etc.

Kids need to be stimulated and I fought with my two teens on this all the time-and it doesn't get better as they get older-my oldest is a huge gamer and while he IS in school and working he also had a problem with gaming a few years back and grades dropped. I know it is tough once they get older, the only saving grace for my oldest is that I was very strict about his diet as he was an athlete so I always talked to him about what he was putting in his body. He works out all the time and eats a very healthy diet as an adult-I would say thanks to the education on food he got.

If your kid is interested in science or experiments, you could also look up some fun experiments you could do together, to help him understand the science behind food. It is not to make him feel bad, but to raise awareness of him putting fuel in his body and then using it. IE: If he is going to have a chocolate bar, is he going to be running a race? Does his body need that right now?

My daughter has lost about 5 lbs since I started this last year. I put her in dance and this year it will be swimming. She likes to move around and her portions are getting better. I still face huge problems when she goes to her dads and they feed her full of pasta....against my wishes as she gets psoriasis and hives sometimes after eating lots of pasta or starches.

Anyhow, good luck and hope all works out with your son-it is a lot of work but worth it!

my son was a heavy tween/teen and now he's a very heavy 21 year old. I am really scared for him..but I've done what I can do by encouraging him to eat healthier and exercise. At the age he's at now..it's pretty much out of my hands.

to all of you dealing with this with younger kids..don't think that it's a "stage" and they'll grow taller ..and all the other lies you are told. If your doctor isn't concerned..find a new doctor.

I was an obese tween/teen. Yet my folks still allowed me to have soda, Tasty Kakes, and Twinkies. I'm not criticizing my folks but after living on my own for 13 years and moving back home and now living a healthy lifestyle, I can SEE what they did wrong with me and my brother, who is still obese, as kids. I see the way they eat now and I'm like "wow". And my dad has made some healthy changes to his diet after his triple bypass but his idea of an acceptable dinner is Spam and Egg Beaters!

My doctors were not particularly concerned about my weight, either, not enough to offer me a solution. They would tell me and my mom that I needed to lose weight and get my blood pressure down (my BP in 8th grade was 200/120). But never offered me a solution. This is why I'm going back to school for nutrition, so I can help tweens and teens, but there's a lot of liability involved in that.

I lost my weight in 9th grade because I wanted it bad enough that I just couldn't take it anymore. I lost it by cutting out soda, drinking more water, and cutting my portions. My folks were supportive, but was still stockpiling crap food in the house and it was up to my willpower to not eat it. And I did it. I suppose that set me up for a lifetime of being able to make healthier choices in the face of temptations at the office, with the ex-husband, etc.

My suggestion is that you ARE the parent, you buy the food, you make the rules! He isn't gonna like it, but get the processed crap out of the house. Kids shouldn't be eating "diet" food, so offer REAL food and keep eating out to a minimum! Also, allow for him to have a cheat day once per week. That will keep him on the beam the rest of the time, hopefully.

Encourage exercise! Unfortunately, seasonal sports are not enough! I see tons of obese kids who are active in seasonal sports but the activity needs to be DAILY, on a regular basis. Find out what he enjoys and try to make family activities out of it. Even though it's only your 10 year old who is obese, it is a FAMILY problem!

Feel free to friend me to pick my brain. I know it's been my experience that the eating, dependence on soda, etc was only a symptom of a bigger problem. Once I lost the weight I took up alcohol addiction and got sober through the 12 Steps of AA at 27 (I'm 40 now). But that's only my experience...

I have an obese eighteen year old and an overweight almost sixteen year old. What complicates things for us is that both are on the Autism Spectrum. The younger one is very low functioning autism and the older one has Aspergers.