From Felix, Child's Age 16 - 10/22/19 - IP#: 172.58.231.xxx Click here to reply
Hi all, just an update on the situation with my son. I saw Jason for a few days last week and I was quite concerned. He’s definitely much larger than when I saw him in August, I can tell that he’s been eating a lot. His health seemed to have decreased, I noticed that he has been getting more winded going upstairs and bending over to tie his sneakers. We went on a hike as the weather was quite nice and it was obvious that he was struggling somewhat. I’ll admit that the hike wasn’t the easiest but it wasn’t the first time he’s done that hike with me. When I’ve spoken to my wife about the situation she says that she cooks about half the time and they eat a healthier takeaway on the others. She has lost a noticeable amount of weight over the time period without exercising so I know that the food mustn’t be that unhealthy, contrary to what I knew prior. She and I have both talked to Jason and he says he’ll lose the weight but will continue to eat. We have refused to buy him clothes (honestly because he won’t tell us what size to get), but he’ll spend his job money on clothes so it is fine in that aspect. It’s obvious that he has a junk food addiction but we are at ends to figure out how to curb it. He works at a fast food place, where I’m sure he gets food, and there are many places within a very short walking distance to get sweets and sandwiches. I’m pretty sure he’s stopping after school. It’s gotten to the point where there’s no junk food in either of our houses but he’ll sneak food in and gorge himself in his room. As my wife is the one who is at home with him, she’s tried to get him to workout but he’ll either just walk around the neighborhood (probably getting food) or will downright refuse. She works weird hours so there’s a few nights a week where she suspects he’ll eat the food she prepared earlier in the day and order/obtain other food. Any and all suggestions desperately welcome.
Reply from Janis, Child's Age 14 - 11/27/19 - IP#: 72.235.193.xxx Felix, you asked about my son Paul. As of Sunday (when I bribed him to get on the scale), he weighed 367 pounds and is 6'3" tall. The background is that Paul's father and I were never married. When he found out I was pregnant, he walked away. Neither Paul not I have contact with him. My family was supportive of me and my mother reached out to the mother of Paul's father to tell her of the situation (she did this without my knowledge). When Paul was born, his paternal grandmother took a strong interest in him (he is her only grandchild) and she even filed for custody of him claiming I was an unfit mother! The court found for me, so I have sole custody of Paul, but his grandmother was given visitation rights (only when a member of my family is present) and, when he turned 10, his grandmother went to court and was given the right to give Paul a monthly allowance in the form of a debit card she recharged monthly (there is no reason for this as I have a good job but his grandmother's lawyer argued that she should be allowed to spoil him!!!! And the judge agreed!!! So now, Paul has $1500 monthly loaded onto his debit card. I have no control over how he spends this money. Paul was tall for his age and slender up until he was 9. He spent 3 months that summer with my brother and his family and put on 30 pounds and developed a big appetite, and since then his weight has zoomed. He's not self conscious about his weight and as a freshman, has gone out for Grade 9 Basketball. When I've watched practice, I can see he runs up the court once and then is panting and sweaty. Actually, his run is more like a fast waddle because his legs, hips, and rear end are huge. The coach tells me Paul is the best shooter he's seen, but he just puts him in as a sub because he's so slow. When I try to limit what Paul eats, he calls and orders pizza delivery, and he has the money to pay for it. I've tried to go to court to have his ridiculous allowance taken away but his grandmother has always prevailed. I know from hearing him and his friends talk when I take them home after practice or wherever that Paul buys food before and after school and is the best customer at the school snack bar. He's talked about being a firefighter or police officer or joining the military after he graduates from high school. I've pointed out to him that all those careers have height-weight standards but that doesn't lessen his huge appetite or food purchases. I've suggested he save his allowance from "mee maw" so he can buy a car when he can get his driver's license when he's 16 (as a way to keep him from spending so much on food) but my suggestion hasn't had an impact. He's a smart boy, polite (so people tell me) and kind, and I think he's handsome if you look beyond the huge belly and chest and huge backside. I just hope the need to keep his appetite and weight under control kicks in with him soon because at this rate he will be 500 pounds by the time he graduates.
Reply from Felix, Child's Age 16 - 11/20/19 - IP#: 172.58.238.xxx Hi Janis, yes, PE is a joke at Jason’s school as well. Change into a PE kit and you pass. Don’t even have to do the exercises. I guess the reduction of actual PE classes contribute to the growing child obesity problem. Janis, how big has your son gotten? Is he doing athletics in high school? Does the added bulk make him winded, etc? I have no clue how much Jason weighs, I just know it is over 300 pounds and it’s concerning. It’s difficult to find clothes for him and he just eats so much food. He came up to visit me last weekend, arrived Friday night, stocked up on junk food from the local late night without my immediate knowledge and pretty much gorged on that all weekend. I generally cook enough for leftovers for lunch the next day, but even doubling my meals (enough for 4 meals) I would eat about 1 serving and he’d eat the remainder in one sitting. And has then proceeded to go to the store and get apple pie cakes! I don’t know what to do at this point, he’s like a bottomless pit with a rapidly expanding waistline.
Reply from Janis, Child's Age 14 - 11/14/19 - IP#: 72.235.193.xxx Felix, my experiences with my son match yours. He's a freshman in high school and required to take PE, but he tells me it's a joke (because of his size, he was placed in a special PE class for overweight buys). Just from things he and his friends (all of whom are chubby/fat)talk about, which I overhear when I'm chaufeurring them around, they all think they know what's best for themselves and in fact take pride in how much they can eat and talk about having mukbang contests.
Reply from Felix, Child's Age 16 - 10/28/19 - IP#: 172.58.231.xxx Hi Sarah. To answer your questions: I have reason to believe he is sedentary pretty much when not in school or working. He’ll drive or take the bus home and essentially sit and eat all evening. My wife doesn’t buy much junk food but on the occasion she does it’s gone very quickly. PE in school is a joke. It’s pass fail and you pass if you change, which Jason does. I don’t know about his performance in the PE class but from what I’ve gathered you can skirt without doing exercise. From what I’ve gathered anything other than pure walking (running, stairs, steep hills etc) will get him winded. There haven’t been any events that I know of that would have embarrassed him. He is doing well in every area except his weight. I’ve had doctors talk to him, his older brothers who are in university are talking to him and it’s like it goes in through one ear and out through the other.
Reply from Sarah, Child's Age 12 - 10/24/19 - IP#: 39.44.240.xxx How many hours is he sedentary, does he have physical exercise at school, how does he perform in that? Apart from stairs what other difficulties does he face and does he recognize that they effect him? Is he embarrassed about his size or some particular event when he was,maybe it motivate him.
