Overweight mom with bad mobility

[Anonymous]

Mom is 70. She’s been overweight her whole life and totally fine with it. Unfortunately, it appears to be catching up with her. She’s needing a new second knee (two, really) and has major ankle issues as well. She hates post-op therapy and doesn’t try.

She’s never really exercised and has always overeaten. Somehow her labs are okay so she feels she’s totally healthy despite the fact that she can’t walk around the block.

It’s hard to watch, very scary, and a bit maddening too. I am determined to be more proactive and committed to my health and strength.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Mom is 70. She’s been overweight her whole life and totally fine with it. Unfortunately, it appears to be catching up with her. She’s needing a new second knee (two, really) and has major ankle issues as well. She hates post-op therapy and doesn’t try.

She’s never really exercised and has always overeaten. Somehow her labs are okay so she feels she’s totally healthy despite the fact that she can’t walk around the block.

It’s hard to watch, very scary, and a bit maddening too. I am determined to be more proactive and committed to my health and strength.

Obese not overweight, actually

[Anonymous]

Fwiw both my dad and mil who are thin and fit have had knee/hip replacements so that part is not necessarily linked. But I have infinite compassion for my mom who was an obese toddler and always stayed obese. Society HATES heavy women. I am never going to feel that way about my mom. She is now on diabetes meds and lost some weight, but is still not active at all and I doubt she ever will be. Does it make me sad and has it been a big motivation in my life to stay fit and eat well? Yes, definitely. It's very hard to become active at that advanced age and starting much younger is important.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Fwiw both my dad and mil who are thin and fit have had knee/hip replacements so that part is not necessarily linked. But I have infinite compassion for my mom who was an obese toddler and always stayed obese. Society HATES heavy women. I am never going to feel that way about my mom. She is now on diabetes meds and lost some weight, but is still not active at all and I doubt she ever will be. Does it make me sad and has it been a big motivation in my life to stay fit and eat well? Yes, definitely. It's very hard to become active at that advanced age and starting much younger is important.

Agree. What frustrates me is that much of her situation could have been preventable. Now my Dad has to become her full-time helper to get her from point A to B which is sad.

[Anonymous]

No answers, just commiseration. Same with a family member of mine who is mid-50s and about 400 pounds. Significant mobility issues. No interest in changing diet or in GLP1s.

We all fear having to be their caretaker one day. We've seen how absolutely crushing it can be to care for someone that large.

Honestly, I pray they pass peacefully one day in their sleep.