From TRACY, Child's Age 14 - 08/14/07 - IP#: 64.12.117.xxx  Click here to reply  
I am scared. My daughter is a beautiful 14 year old who is over weight. She is about 5'4 and weighs about 185 pounds. She is nt motivated at all to do anything about it. She is not happy with her weight but refuses to exercise and eat healthy. I provide healthy meanls and snacks but she always goes back for more. I try to tell her without making her feel bad not to eat too much but she gets an attitude with me. I feel helples. In the last 2 years I lost almost 50 pounds by eating right and exercising. I thought by doing so it would motivate her into doing it. I tried to get hr to do it with me but again he attitude comes about and we end up fighting. I know she is not happy with herself. Her confidence is low. I have taken all my kids to dieticians in hopes it would help but it has not. My other kids do not have wieght problems. Please help with any suggestions.
Thanks you so much I am desperate.
Tracy
Reply from Michele, Child's Age 8 - 08/27/07  - IP#: 71.225.149.xxx
You are a great role model for your daughter. Offering her support is what she needs and sounds like you are doing! Tracy has all the tools she needs to loose the weight, but what is keeping her from trying? Sometimes kids use food as a means of coping with things they can't seem to deal with. Food offers "comfort" because they generally feel better eating, know they can "control" what they eat for the most part and sometimes even "zone" out when they reach for food. This can start a cycle; they feel OK when eating but then may feel terrible afterwards and realize the feeling disappears quickly. If you feel comfortable ask Tracy what is going on, how her day was at school or she may be more comfortable confiding in one of her siblings she trusts, or even a counselor. You are doing a great job offering healthy snacks and motivating your daughter to exercise and eat healthy. But sometimes weight issues really stem from something other than just wanting food. Good luck and keep up your great work.