Dietitian to Help DS Lose Weight

[Anonymous]

He's right at border of obese and recently has decided to be serious about losing weight by eating less and skipping a meal once or twice a week - all of which his own ideas, but is frustrated by lack of progress. Of course us parents (and his Drs too) preach healthy eating forever but I want to make sure he is getting directions and guidance from a health professional this time. He just turned 13 last month.

We're in Arlington so looking for someone in NoVa. I could also ask his ped but they're in DC so not necessarily knowledgeable about NoVa.

[Anonymous]

I would definitely ask the ped. My ped is in MD, but has recommended people in DC, where we live.

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:He's right at border of obese and recently has decided to be serious about losing weight by eating less and skipping a meal once or twice a week - all of which his own ideas, but is frustrated by lack of progress. Of course us parents (and his Drs too) preach healthy eating forever but I want to make sure he is getting directions and guidance from a health professional this time. He just turned 13 last month.

We're in Arlington so looking for someone in NoVa. I could also ask his ped but they're in DC so not necessarily knowledgeable about NoVa.

How has a 13yr old gotten obese? He can't buy his own groceries or cook his own meals.

[Anonymous]

Good luck op- my DS saw a nutirtionist when he was in 8th grade and now he has so much better control over his eating - it's amazing. It was Maryland so no help to you, but find the right now and definitely interview before you bring your son. One that I interviewed wanted him to eat basically nothing but vegetables -- for a teenage boy!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:He's right at border of obese and recently has decided to be serious about losing weight by eating less and skipping a meal once or twice a week - all of which his own ideas, but is frustrated by lack of progress. Of course us parents (and his Drs too) preach healthy eating forever but I want to make sure he is getting directions and guidance from a health professional this time. He just turned 13 last month.

We're in Arlington so looking for someone in NoVa. I could also ask his ped but they're in DC so not necessarily knowledgeable about NoVa.

How has a 13yr old gotten obese? He can't buy his own groceries or cook his own meals.

He likes to eat. Duh!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:He's right at border of obese and recently has decided to be serious about losing weight by eating less and skipping a meal once or twice a week - all of which his own ideas, but is frustrated by lack of progress. Of course us parents (and his Drs too) preach healthy eating forever but I want to make sure he is getting directions and guidance from a health professional this time. He just turned 13 last month.

We're in Arlington so looking for someone in NoVa. I could also ask his ped but they're in DC so not necessarily knowledgeable about NoVa.

How has a 13yr old gotten obese? He can't buy his own groceries or cook his own meals.

NP here and I have healthy weight kids but i can tell you. I gained a lot of weight at that age. My mom cooked healthy meals. We didn’t have a lot of junk food in the house. I went to friends houses and ate junk. Went to the mall and ate junk. Bought junky stuff in school. Didn’t exercise as much as I should have. I also have friends with kids who do feed their kids healthy foods and the kids play on sports teams but they are still overweight. By adolescence, it’s not always the parents fault.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Good luck op- my DS saw a nutirtionist when he was in 8th grade and now he has so much better control over his eating - it's amazing. It was Maryland so no help to you, but find the right now and definitely interview before you bring your son. One that I interviewed wanted him to eat basically nothing but vegetables -- for a teenage boy!

if it's not too far from the beltway i'd still like to know his/her info. thx!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:He's right at border of obese and recently has decided to be serious about losing weight by eating less and skipping a meal once or twice a week - all of which his own ideas, but is frustrated by lack of progress. Of course us parents (and his Drs too) preach healthy eating forever but I want to make sure he is getting directions and guidance from a health professional this time. He just turned 13 last month.

We're in Arlington so looking for someone in NoVa. I could also ask his ped but they're in DC so not necessarily knowledgeable about NoVa.

How has a 13yr old gotten obese? He can't buy his own groceries or cook his own meals.

This right here. Unless there's a significant genetic abnormality that prevents the child from processing foods correctly, there is no reason a 13 YO should be obese UNLESS he is eating poorly and/or he is eating way too much. OP, can you fill in a little more detail?> What kinds of things does he eat?

Sure, you can talk to your pediatrician but I have found peds to be woefully unequipped and undereducated to talk about nutrition. It's a huge gap in the medical community. As others have said, go with a nutritionist in your area and get your child to the gym. Skipping meals or eating less is not the answer (eating less may be the answer if your DC is overeating). Nutritionist + Exercise ASAP.

[Anonymous]

Do see a nutritionist if it will help, but you can also find a lot of useful materials on-line. Don't encourage DS to skip meals. That is not a healthy way to do it. Healthy food choices and reasonable portion sizes, 3 meals a day, are the way to go. Don't keep junk food in the house. Encourage him to be active, perhaps starting small with a daily walk or easy bike ride together. Present it as a lifestyle change for the whole family. It's good that you're intervening now, OP. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do see a nutritionist if it will help, but you can also find a lot of useful materials on-line. Don't encourage DS to skip meals. That is not a healthy way to do it. Healthy food choices and reasonable portion sizes, 3 meals a day, are the way to go. Don't keep junk food in the house. Encourage him to be active, perhaps starting small with a daily walk or easy bike ride together. Present it as a lifestyle change for the whole family. It's good that you're intervening now, OP. Good luck!

Google Web MD Safe Weight Loss for Overweight Kids. Helpful suggestions there!

[Anonymous]

Instead of focusing on dieting and losing weight at 13 (which I think sets him up for a lifetime of battles), get off the sofa and get active with him. He might not lose a lot of weight, but he will be much healthier which is the goal here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do see a nutritionist if it will help, but you can also find a lot of useful materials on-line. Don't encourage DS to skip meals. That is not a healthy way to do it. Healthy food choices and reasonable portion sizes, 3 meals a day, are the way to go. Don't keep junk food in the house. Encourage him to be active, perhaps starting small with a daily walk or easy bike ride together. Present it as a lifestyle change for the whole family. It's good that you're intervening now, OP. Good luck!

Google Web MD Safe Weight Loss for Overweight Kids. Helpful suggestions there!

Understood. But I want a health professional speaks to him and answers his questions. He might've been googling on his own and came up with the 'plan' he has now, which is not helpful. I think he's entitled to working with a dietitian or nutritionist.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do see a nutritionist if it will help, but you can also find a lot of useful materials on-line. Don't encourage DS to skip meals. That is not a healthy way to do it. Healthy food choices and reasonable portion sizes, 3 meals a day, are the way to go. Don't keep junk food in the house. Encourage him to be active, perhaps starting small with a daily walk or easy bike ride together. Present it as a lifestyle change for the whole family. It's good that you're intervening now, OP. Good luck!

Google Web MD Safe Weight Loss for Overweight Kids. Helpful suggestions there!

Understood. But I want a health professional speaks to him and answers his questions. He might've been googling on his own and came up with the 'plan' he has now, which is not helpful. I think he's entitled to working with a dietitian or nutritionist.

Sure, but the point is you'll need to provide support, including healthy food options and physical activity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:He's right at border of obese and recently has decided to be serious about losing weight by eating less and skipping a meal once or twice a week - all of which his own ideas, but is frustrated by lack of progress. Of course us parents (and his Drs too) preach healthy eating forever but I want to make sure he is getting directions and guidance from a health professional this time. He just turned 13 last month.

We're in Arlington so looking for someone in NoVa. I could also ask his ped but they're in DC so not necessarily knowledgeable about NoVa.

How has a 13yr old gotten obese? He can't buy his own groceries or cook his own meals.

This right here. Unless there's a significant genetic abnormality that prevents the child from processing foods correctly, there is no reason a 13 YO should be obese UNLESS he is eating poorly and/or he is eating way too much. OP, can you fill in a little more detail?> What kinds of things does he eat?

Sure, you can talk to your pediatrician but I have found peds to be woefully unequipped and undereducated to talk about nutrition. It's a huge gap in the medical community. As others have said, go with a nutritionist in your area and get your child to the gym. Skipping meals or eating less is not the answer (eating less may be the answer if your DC is overeating). Nutritionist + Exercise ASAP.

he eats the same food as his siblings who are of normal weight, but a lot more of it, and is this way since infancy. of course he could be sneaking in sweets/junk now but i'm not aware of it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do see a nutritionist if it will help, but you can also find a lot of useful materials on-line. Don't encourage DS to skip meals. That is not a healthy way to do it. Healthy food choices and reasonable portion sizes, 3 meals a day, are the way to go. Don't keep junk food in the house. Encourage him to be active, perhaps starting small with a daily walk or easy bike ride together. Present it as a lifestyle change for the whole family. It's good that you're intervening now, OP. Good luck!

Google Web MD Safe Weight Loss for Overweight Kids. Helpful suggestions there!

Understood. But I want a health professional speaks to him and answers his questions. He might've been googling on his own and came up with the 'plan' he has now, which is not helpful. I think he's entitled to working with a dietitian or nutritionist.

Sure, but the point is you'll need to provide support, including healthy food options and physical activity.

and how do you know we aren't already?