Anonymous wrote:PS- My child, who at one point really needed to gain weight, loves the food at Chipotle. Everything there (except the salads) is extremely caloric! I also recommend homemade milkshakes with heavy cream added.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks for the gentle advice. I’m feeling fragile right now.

To answer some questions, the nutritionist is a dietician who works with DD’s medical team at Children’s. I am very opposed to the feeding tube for lots of reasons - most importantly because it feels like a total invasion and I’m not convinced it’s necessary anyway. But it did drive home the point that we need to take this seriously.

As for her general health, her vitals are fine. Her team at NIH concluded that her bone delay is most likely a result of “insufficient caloric intake.” She is active, happy, social, coordinated, bright. Sometimes she says she feels weak, tired, or dizzy. She is anxious, and I can’t say I blame her.

Regarding feeling weak, does she need more electrolytes? My child really likes Nuun drinks. (It's a healthier version of Gatorade, available at Whole Foods, sold in fizzy tablets.)

Anonymous wrote:OP, is your DH supportive of your views? That helps a lot, if you are on the same page. Do you have the support you need, for the most part? I respect that you are doing what is best for your child, and I think that PPs have really stepped it up for this thread. Thankful the crazies have not chimed in yet.

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks for the gentle advice. I’m feeling fragile right now.

To answer some questions, the nutritionist is a dietician who works with DD’s medical team at Children’s. I am very opposed to the feeding tube for lots of reasons - most importantly because it feels like a total invasion and I’m not convinced it’s necessary anyway. But it did drive home the point that we need to take this seriously.

As for her general health, her vitals are fine. Her team at NIH concluded that her bone delay is most likely a result of “insufficient caloric intake.” She is active, happy, social, coordinated, bright. Sometimes she says she feels weak, tired, or dizzy. She is anxious, and I can’t say I blame her.

Anonymous wrote:Sorry OP. This must be hard. Are you sure she's not celiac? (it doesn't always show up in the blood test). I was like her, maybe to a lesser extent. Skinny and no appetite. Meals were a torture. Many years later I found out I have celiac disease and dairy intolerance. I didn't have the typical symptoms but I was falling sick a lot, canker sores, anxiety). Just throwing this out there. Good luck.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, you posted this early on:

As for her general health, her vitals are fine. Her team at NIH concluded that her bone delay is most likely a result of “insufficient caloric intake.” She is active, happy, social, coordinated, bright. Sometimes she says she feels weak, tired, or dizzy. She is anxious, and I can’t say I blame her.

I am astounded that her team and you and your husband are allowing this child to participate in ballet, a high energy sport, when she has poor bone growth and is feeling weak, tired and dizzy most likely due to insufficient caloric intake.

I know that dance makes her happy and gives her self confidence. But your child has poor nutritional status. Through no fault of her own or fault of her parents but it is the truth nevertheless.

Your daughter should not be participating in high energy sports of any kind until she can eat enough food to fuel her own growth.

She does not needs to be diagnosed with an eating disorder for you to take this extremely seriously and to use techniques that are helpful for feeding children with eating disorders. Step one is to reduce all unnecessary physical activities. No more ballet!!! You are shooting yourself in the foot by allowing her to continue to burn calories when she cannot eat enough calories to let her bones grow.

Step two is to focus on high calorie foods -- not the red peppers. Add oil to everything. Count all her calories and make sure she is getting 3000+ calories per day. (Ask about the use of periactin to help her stomach empty faster.)

You seem to think that anorexia is about control but it is not. It is about not eating enough calories to fuel growth. She might not have started with anorexia, but just filling up her stomach fast, plus additional caloric needs of her sport and of trying to grow, may have triggered anorexia.

You need to stop the ballet now.

Thanks but I will follow the advice of her medical team. I think you are overestimating the caloric requirements of a typical dance class or two a week. Especially at this level. She is not rehearsing four hours a day. The emotional and social benefits far outweigh the risks, and dance motivates her to eat. Now if she were playing soccer or long distance running, that would be another story. I’ve spent 45 years in a dance studio and when dancers want to lose weight, they run or do other cardio activities. Dance is an anaerobic activity. If her medical team recommended she quit, we would pull her. But right now all agree that dance is an important balance in her life.

Why are you arguing with strangers about your daughters’ life instead of doing something?

Anonymous wrote:OP, what is a typical diet like each day for your DD? For you and your DH?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, you posted this early on:

As for her general health, her vitals are fine. Her team at NIH concluded that her bone delay is most likely a result of “insufficient caloric intake.” She is active, happy, social, coordinated, bright. Sometimes she says she feels weak, tired, or dizzy. She is anxious, and I can’t say I blame her.

I am astounded that her team and you and your husband are allowing this child to participate in ballet, a high energy sport, when she has poor bone growth and is feeling weak, tired and dizzy most likely due to insufficient caloric intake.

I know that dance makes her happy and gives her self confidence. But your child has poor nutritional status. Through no fault of her own or fault of her parents but it is the truth nevertheless.

Your daughter should not be participating in high energy sports of any kind until she can eat enough food to fuel her own growth.

She does not needs to be diagnosed with an eating disorder for you to take this extremely seriously and to use techniques that are helpful for feeding children with eating disorders. Step one is to reduce all unnecessary physical activities. No more ballet!!! You are shooting yourself in the foot by allowing her to continue to burn calories when she cannot eat enough calories to let her bones grow.

Step two is to focus on high calorie foods -- not the red peppers. Add oil to everything. Count all her calories and make sure she is getting 3000+ calories per day. (Ask about the use of periactin to help her stomach empty faster.)

You seem to think that anorexia is about control but it is not. It is about not eating enough calories to fuel growth. She might not have started with anorexia, but just filling up her stomach fast, plus additional caloric needs of her sport and of trying to grow, may have triggered anorexia.

You need to stop the ballet now.

Thanks but I will follow the advice of her medical team. I think you are overestimating the caloric requirements of a typical dance class or two a week. Especially at this level. She is not rehearsing four hours a day. The emotional and social benefits far outweigh the risks, and dance motivates her to eat. Now if she were playing soccer or long distance running, that would be another story. I’ve spent 45 years in a dance studio and when dancers want to lose weight, they run or do other cardio activities. Dance is an anaerobic activity. If her medical team recommended she quit, we would pull her. But right now all agree that dance is an important balance in her life.