12 years old and 272 pounds!!!

Now, what do you do when you have a child like mine who sneaks food?? Let's see, I caught her today sneaking some 100 calorie pack cookies.....I have found pudding cups in the chair and granola wrappers in her bed. I have caught her about to sneak food out of the fridge. She pretends to eat veggies....My husband has caught her sneaking food in the middle of the night. We are at our wits end and are about to buy locks for the cabinets and the fridge. She hates it because I make her walk and jog on the treadmill and make her ride her bike. She's eight yrs old and the sneaking food has caused her to gain quite a bit of weight. I try to model healthy eating and exercise, but she doesn't care, and the doctor doesn't seem concerned. We talked to her about diabetes (her dad developed that last year) and it didn't phase her, the doctor isn't concerned, all he says is don't let her gain any more weight. Something drastic needs to happen but I'm not sure what to do anymore. Yes, she goes outside, but I found out she's just sitting around out there and that's when I started making her ride her bike. She is almost 5' and 114lbs...I'm pulling my hair out!

Not trying to be rude, but if you didnt leave that stuff around your house, there wouldnt be a problem. Your daughter is eight years old, she doesn't know any better...if you want to keep pudding in the house, then buy the locks.

ps: I'm 21, 4'10", and 114 pounds is too much for me! I can't imagine on an eight year old. ^.^;;;

I told her what the pudding was for and how long it was to last and how many she was allowed to have a day...1 pudding cup after school and was in the high cabinet. I have things like rice cake snacks, and baby carrots. She is sneaking things that are "healthy" but a person can over eat on stuff like that as well. I just wished I could get through to her and make her understand what she is doing when she sneaks food.....I do think there might be something medical, but the doctor thinks nothing is wrong and la dee da's his way through appointments. I 've tried all kinds of things with her. She started gaining weight when she was 2 and after she got in school she really gained weight fast! I don't want to put a lot of blame on school, but I think there needs to be more PE in her school and I really don't know what to do about it.

I guess it's time for the locks on the cabinets and the fridge. sigh. I do want to be clear, she's not sneaking junk food.....I haven't had chips in the house in a very long time...or cookies. I may have eaten them, but I've had to hide them from her....I have self control over those kinds of foods, she does not have any at all. Like I've said before, I'm at my witts end.

Yes, you read that correctly! I just had a co-worker of mine tell me about her friend who's 12 year old daughter is 272 pounds! I could not pick my jaw up from the floor! :noway:

Some are pointing the finger at the mom, some the child. What do you think?

Now, what do you do when you have a child like mine who sneaks food?? Let's see, I caught her today sneaking some 100 calorie pack cookies.....I have found pudding cups in the chair and granola wrappers in her bed. I have caught her about to sneak food out of the fridge. She pretends to eat veggies....My husband has caught her sneaking food in the middle of the night. We are at our wits end and are about to buy locks for the cabinets and the fridge. She hates it because I make her walk and jog on the treadmill and make her ride her bike. She's eight yrs old and the sneaking food has caused her to gain quite a bit of weight. I try to model healthy eating and exercise, but she doesn't care, and the doctor doesn't seem concerned. We talked to her about diabetes (her dad developed that last year) and it didn't phase her, the doctor isn't concerned, all he says is don't let her gain any more weight. Something drastic needs to happen but I'm not sure what to do anymore. Yes, she goes outside, but I found out she's just sitting around out there and that's when I started making her ride her bike. She is almost 5' and 114lbs...I'm pulling my hair out!

Seek counselling from a nutritionist. There are foods that you can offer her to help her sustain a little more control over cravings. If she is only 8, you have to understand that she does not have the mature mental capacity to use logic or reasoning to it's full potential quite yet.

You can lecture her all you want .. but you have to remember she is only a CHILD .. She can not quite comprehend the importance of how this affects her health. What does an 8 yr old care about health? She could be caught up in the catch 22 of over eating because she gets teased at school about her weight then looks for refuge in immediate gratification (children do that well) .. like high sugary foods. Thus the cycle of self destruction...and she has no clue as to the damage she is causing.

If you do not have high sugar or high fat type foods in the house .. she will not be able to 'sneak' them. Don't buy pudding cups .. buy yogurt .. don't buy granola bars .... offer her fruit roll ups. Have fresh fruit, melons and veggies around all the time. Provide her with healthy meals and snacks during the day .. these don't only offer her nutrition but they regulate cravings for high sugar/fat foods. She may just very well be an addict and you have to treat an addict like an addict. You can't quit cold turkey .. or you will have the fight of your life on your hands.., You have to slowly reduce that type of intake. Then she won't even realize it's happening. Also be very cautious when offering a child low cal foods that contain artificial sweeteners. THAT opens up a whole different level of damaging effects...especially for children.

You can make exercise fun .. go to the pool or the beach more often so she can romp with kids. She will never know THAT is exercise. Get her involved in some sort of sport activity .. She will never know THAT is exercise. Take her for a walk to keep YOU company .. She will never know THAT is exercise. Kids like doing things that are fun .. Make it fun for her and you will all reap the benefits.