How to Deal with Kids Weight Gain
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Anonymous
| My teen has packed on about 25lbs since winter. He's in sweats all the time because his pants are too tight. I don't want to go out and buy new pants that are 2 sizes bigger because I think he will get comfortable at this size. I don't want to fat shame him, but I want him to lose it. He is in a high pressure high school and I think stress is a problem. He feels less like moving around at this weight and feels like he doesn't want to play sports because he is so out of shape and get's winded. He doesn't want to go to the gym because he looks out of shape and feels like people look down on him. I am making him walk to school because I think he feels better. I don't buy soda and sweets at home, but he is old enough to buy stuff out. How can we help? |
Anonymous
| How old is he? Is he still growing? |
Anonymous
| I think you provide clothes that fit |
Anonymous
+1 |
Anonymous
|
What are you doing to help manage his stress?
25 lbs in a few months is a sign of a much bigger problem than not going to the gym. |
Anonymous
+1 You say you don't want to body shame him. So buy him clothes for his body, not the body you want him to have. If he decides to lose weight, then he has to do it himself and it has to come from within -- not from you, his mother, deciding he needs to do it. Has he talked to you about the weight gain or have you broached the subject (kindly and with love)? Perhaps you could start there. Just see how he feels about it and if he wants you to buy new clothes or [what?...ask him] before you jump to subtle ways of making him feel like sh!t for the gain. |
Anonymous
|
+1. Take him to a doctor to make sure it's not physical issue if depression, get referral for therapist.
I gained 25 lbs my junior year of HS because of depression and mental exhaustion from being in a 24/7 pressure cooker of trying to get into an ivy. It happens. Help him make healthy choices when it comes Not just to weight but to his mental health. In the end I chose not to go to an excellent college but not Princeton and chilled out in life. I'm much happier... |
Anonymous
| Pp here - autocorrect- I went to an excellent college just not Princeton. |
Anonymous
| Get him help for his stress etc. that's a much bigger issue. And buy the kid some fitting clothes so he feels comfortable. Do active things as a family and prioritize movement and health. Also boys have late growth spurts. I know plenty who were larger and shorter in HS and then stretched out in college. |
Anonymous
| You ARE fat-shaming him. Stop that and buy him clothes that fit. |
Anonymous
Plus 10000 |
Anonymous
| That amount of weight gain in such a short span of time suggests that there are self-esteem or psychological issues at play. Making him wear ill-fitting clothes will probably not help with the self-esteem issues. |
Anonymous
| Definitely buy him clothes that fit! Since we are heading towards the warmer months, you probably can get away with mostly shorts. My boys would wear shorts every day if they could. Get some athletic shorts and call it a day. |
Anonymous
| Also rule out weight gain from thyroid malfunction |
Anonymous
| First it is important to know his age and height and if he had a growth spurt or not. 25lbs since winter, how many months is that exactly? If he is about to hit a growth spurt he might outgrow it. But, new clothes are needed one way or another. provide healthy food options and limit availability of eating out and money for snacks. If he doesn't have money he can't buy junk food. |