Eating is often a method of self soothing. Being overweight as a child adds another layer of difficulty to growing up and going through puberty. Make sure he is getting positive feedback from you about himself and plenty of hugs. When kids get older we tend to hug and love on them less, they still need it. Sometimes food is way to deal with bad feelings. Praise and hug
him when he does something well or right, dresses well, accomplishes a goal, etc.

My 11 yo ds eats that much, easily. He grew 4 inches between her 10 and 11 yo checkup, and is not particularly active.
Yesterday he ate:

breakfast: bagel with cream cheese and fruit and milk

lunch/school snack: peanut butter and jelly sandwich, 2 string cheese, crackers, apple slices, popcorn, granola bar and a cupcake

after school: english muffin pizza

dinner: chicken legs (3), rice, sweet potato fries, cherry tomatoes and dip, an orange, and half his little brother's unfinished grilled cheese sandwich, and two glasses of milk.


This is a normal day of eating.

I'm sorry, OP. It is hard.

I have an 11-year-old boy who is obsessed with food as well. He would be obese if we allowed him to eat as he wanted to eat. As it is, he is just slightly overweight. It is very difficult to deal with. We often talk about how eating three helpings of meat and grains is not healthy, and that if he is still hungry, he can eat more helpings of vegetables/fruits.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, in a typical day what specific foods does he eat & in what quantities?

one glass of milk, one eng, one slice of toast, one babybel, four meatballs/grilled chicken breast strips, one cutie/some grapes.

two school lunches/a dessert (rice putting/yougurt)

one piece of cookie/one energy bar/yougurt (will ask for more).

one chicken breast (will ask for seconds or a thigh)/one (will ask for two) pork chop/a (will ask for more) steak, some brocoli/cauliflower/lettice (never seconds), some bread/rice/pasta (wants seconds), some hot soup. no dessert. small fruit sometimes (never seconds).

one glass of milk.

yeah he eats a lot.

OP, the slashes / mean "or"? If so, that is not that much food for a preteen boy. I'd cut down the bread/pasta/rice.

Our DD loves to eat & is always asking for more. I think it's just kids are different. (my other child can't be bothered to remember to eat!) Your list doesn't seem bad - hard to know what the lunches are. That said, we just worked with our pediatrician about a nutrition plan -- and basically are cutting out 'white' or processed carbs as much as possible (while still having a once-a-week Sunday croissant treat) - and boosting protein, fruit and veggies (protein takes longer to digest than carbs, so you aren't as hungry again as quickly) -- and that when she wants more or seconds, that the options are fruit, veggies, whole grain cereal/milk, or popcorn. I'd check out options for bringing lunch and cutting out white carbs. Focus on healthy options with some limited treats (like one small treat a day as long as he's eating good for you stuff) vs. quantity.

OP,

You haven't really told us any relevant facts:
1. BMI? Percentile in height and weight for his age?
2. Does he seem to only think about food?
3. Does he gulp his food or eat very quickly?
4. Does he eat more when stressed, anxious, before a big event?
5. Does he seem to have or has he expressed a loss of control when he starts to eat?

Right now we have no idea whether what you're describing is normal or not.

If he thinks about food all the time then it's less likely that he's using food to deal with 'issues' he's really just hungry. He needs a distraction to get used to ignore the 'not full' feeling in his stomach.

Anonymous wrote:It's not a lot but he'd eat more if we let him. We already limit carbs to one serving but let him have his meats. And he'd ask what breakfasts gonna be before bed.

I'm really trying to find out why he's obsessed with food.

Take advantage of his interest, have him help cook & plan meals., find a cooking TV show he liked Maybe you have a future chef on your hands.

you havent ssid anything that sounds that unusual. Soon enough, OP, the interest in food will be replaced with an interest in girls.

It's not a lot but he'd eat more if we let him. We already limit carbs to one serving but let him have his meats. And he'd ask what breakfasts gonna be before bed.

I'm really trying to find out why he's obsessed with food.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, in a typical day what specific foods does he eat & in what quantities?

one glass of milk, one eng, one slice of toast, one babybel, four meatballs/grilled chicken breast strips, one cutie/some grapes.

two school lunches/a dessert (rice putting/yougurt)

one piece of cookie/one energy bar/yougurt (will ask for more).

one chicken breast (will ask for seconds or a thigh)/one (will ask for two) pork chop/a (will ask for more) steak, some brocoli/cauliflower/lettice (never seconds), some bread/rice/pasta (wants seconds), some hot soup. no dessert. small fruit sometimes (never seconds).

one glass of milk.

yeah he eats a lot.

OP, the slashes / mean "or"? If so, that is not that much food for a preteen boy. I'd cut down the bread/pasta/rice.

Anonymous wrote:OP, in a typical day what specific foods does he eat & in what quantities?

one glass of milk, one eng, one slice of toast, one babybel, four meatballs/grilled chicken breast strips, one cutie/some grapes.

two school lunches/a dessert (rice putting/yougurt)

one piece of cookie/one energy bar/yougurt (will ask for more).

one chicken breast (will ask for seconds or a thigh)/one (will ask for two) pork chop/a (will ask for more) steak, some brocoli/cauliflower/lettice (never seconds), some bread/rice/pasta (wants seconds), some hot soup. no dessert. small fruit sometimes (never seconds).

one glass of milk.

yeah he eats a lot.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Also how active is he?

not sure how this is relevant. he's not hnugry from doing a ton of exercise, if that's what you're implying.

NP here. It's relevant because if he's super active, he is going to be hungrier and need more calories to replace what he is burning. You can't be this clueless, OP. Pre-teen boys eat a lot because they grow quickly. If they are eating a decently healthy diet and getting plenty of physical activity, they won't be overweight. If they sit in front of a screen all day eating cheese poofs, they might get fat. My boys ate a TON at that age. It felt like I could not keep them fed. None of them were ever overweight. If anything, they were and are on the skinny side.

he's not super active nor is he sitting in front of a screen all day eating cheese poofs.

an overeating kid eats a large amount of food no matter how hungry or full, and thinks about the next meal no matter when his last meal was. that's my kid.

OP, in a typical day what specific foods does he eat & in what quantities?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Also how active is he?

not sure how this is relevant. he's not hnugry from doing a ton of exercise, if that's what you're implying.

NP here. It's relevant because if he's super active, he is going to be hungrier and need more calories to replace what he is burning. You can't be this clueless, OP. Pre-teen boys eat a lot because they grow quickly. If they are eating a decently healthy diet and getting plenty of physical activity, they won't be overweight. If they sit in front of a screen all day eating cheese poofs, they might get fat. My boys ate a TON at that age. It felt like I could not keep them fed. None of them were ever overweight. If anything, they were and are on the skinny side.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Also how active is he?

not sure how this is relevant. he's not hnugry from doing a ton of exercise, if that's what you're implying.

what do you mean it's not relevant? And why are you so defensive? You have issues with food and you are projecting it as a 'treat,' which is why he is gorging.

why don't you explain why it is relevant to my question, instead of dignosing my 'issue'?

actually, no, please don't response. i don't want this thread to become a pissing contest with you. i really want help from others.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Also how active is he?

not sure how this is relevant. he's not hnugry from doing a ton of exercise, if that's what you're implying.

what do you mean it's not relevant? And why are you so defensive? You have issues with food and you are projecting it as a 'treat,' which is why he is gorging.

why don't you explain why it is relevant to my question, instead of dignosing my 'issue'?