From need advice, Child's Age 11 - 10/24/24 - IP#: 194.195.93.xxx Click here to reply
Hi all, I took my ds in for a doctor's appointment due to a persistent rash on his neck only to find out it was a sign of serious insulin resistance and that he was borderline diabetic with type 2 diabetes. He is only 11 and I really don't know what to do. I've tried getting him to eat better but all he wants is what his friends eat which is junk food. I've tried explaining that they aren't facing a health issue like he is but he is very resistant. Please help
Reply from Lukas, Child's Age 17 - 12/13/24 - IP#: 185.196.178.xxx @jesse Okay sounds good
Reply from Jesse, Child's Age 15 - 12/11/24 - IP#: 174.202.4.xxx Lukas, I'm going to start a new thread to answer your questions about my son Kevin, since his situation is different from "needs advice"'s son
Reply from Lukas, Child's Age 17 - 12/11/24 - IP#: 185.196.178.xxx Hey Jesse how is Kevin doing with sports? Is he already playing football? And what’s his weight?
Reply from need advice, Child's Age 11 - 12/08/24 - IP#: 185.81.124.xxx My son's weight is definitely ballooning, but there's no talk of sports. Even when my brother tells me he is taking him swimming for exercise my son says they just sit in the hot tub or use rings in the lazy river. They never exercise. But the snacks and fast food sound the same. Lots of cakes and donuts and other sweet treats. Even after being told about the diabetes my brother is treating it like he treats his own. Just take more insulin and eat lots of sugar anyway.
Reply from Jesse, Child's Age 15 - 12/08/24 - IP#: 174.202.9.xxx I mention this my older son Lane, who plays football and is almost 16, and his friends are having an influence on my younger Kevin. Kevin hero worships Lane and his buddies. They always take him out to eat fast food with them and buy him treats like candy bars and snack cakes. Kevin's weight has ballooned and they complement him that he's going to be a star football player in high school if he keeps on "getting big". So, he eats even more. I don't know how to stop this. What's hard is that Lane is a big kid (350 pounds) and I'm 425 myself
Reply from need advice, Child's Age 11 - 12/02/24 - IP#: 194.195.93.xxx Hi Jesse. I don't think so. Why would he be trying to do that? My brother loves my son like its his own. They spend a lot of time together, probably more than my son spends with any of his friends.
Reply from Thomas, Child's Age 13 - 12/02/24 - IP#: 104.28.129.xxx Jesse, And how are you, if I may ask? Is everything going well with you and your sons?
Reply from Thomas, Child's Age 13 - 12/02/24 - IP#: 104.28.129.xxx It really doesn't sound good. I guess also because your brother is so heavy, he doesn't see a problem with your son being too heavy...
Reply from Jesse, Child's Age 15 - 12/01/24 - IP#: 174.202.3.xxx need advice, I don't mean to sound blunt, but I but after reading this thread I have to ask you. Is your brother trying to fatten up your son? It sounds to me that he is, bringing him extra food to school, treating him to fast food, etc. I understand your worry. I have two overweight sons (15 and 9, luckily no problems yet).
Reply from need advice, Child's Age 11 - 11/29/24 - IP#: 185.81.124.xxx Neither of them will go for a walk and both of them tell me water tastes disgusting. I think my son is just repeating what my brother is saying though. Even yesterday after all that food he still went and got my son fast food at like 10 at night.
Reply from Thomas, Child's Age 13 - 11/28/24 - IP#: 104.28.129.xxx None of this is good. He shouldn't gain any more weight. If he keeps the weight off, that would be great. Sometimes little things help. For example, drink only water and no soft drinks. Take a walk outside every day. That usually helps with this weight. This would also help your brother. Don't give up. It's hard, but it's worth it.
Reply from need advice, Child's Age 11 - 11/27/24 - IP#: 185.81.124.xxx I just checked my ds' weight because he was complaining he couldn't fit in the new pants I had bought him a few months ago that he is supposed to wear tomorrow for Thanksgiving. He is up to 205 lbs now and has stretch marks all around his sides and on his boy breasts. He is complaining he is tired all the time and he said in the last month my brother has been bringing him a lot more food, especially fast food. I just don't know what to do. I feel defeated at this point and as though I should just give up on my son's weight.
Reply from Thomas, Child's Age 13 - 10/29/24 - IP#: 104.28.64.xxx This is not good. Your brother should want the best for his nephew. He also has to realize that the weight and things like that are not normal. I understand that your brother wants to have a good relationship with him. But it's still not good. Both of them should lose weight. Your brother can do what he wants, he is an adult. But your son should be the one to focus on.
Reply from need advice, Child's Age 11 - 10/28/24 - IP#: 185.187.168.xxx My ds doesn't really ever want to run around. Whenever his friends come over they just play video games with him and my brother. My brother has been very adamant that he doesn't need to lose weight and that he is happy how he is. Last night I caught him bringing a whole box of donuts into my sons room as a bed time snack for them to share. I told him that his nephew isn't meant to be eating sugar right now and he went away. This morning I found the empty donut box in my sons room so he must have gone back later.
Reply from Thomas, Child's Age 13 - 10/28/24 - IP#: 104.28.129.xxx This is very difficult. Especially if your brother doesn't see a problem. He has to notice that your son can't play like the others and that he gets out of breath quickly. That's not normal. He should have a long life and not, as you say, weigh as much as your brother before he's 18.
Reply from need advice, Child's Age 11 - 10/27/24 - IP#: 192.145.118.xxx Do you have any tips for talking to my brother about what he is doing? At this rate my son will be his size before he is 18.
Reply from Thomas, Child's Age 13 - 10/28/24 - IP#: 104.28.129.xxx Oh well, hopefully your brother will soon realize that things can't go on like this. Your son will continue to gain weight.
Reply from need advice, Child's Age 11 - 10/27/24 - IP#: 185.211.32.xxx My brother came to live with us about 2 years ago. My ds was overweight before but only about 10-20 lbs if I remember correctly.
Reply from Thomas, Child's Age 13 - 10/27/24 - IP#: 104.28.62.xxx At first I didn't realize how big my son had become. Probably because I see him every day. I only noticed it when I was comparing photos. How long has your son been this big? How long has he been gaining weight like this? That sounds like a lot of fast food. Of course kids like it. But it's not healthy. My son is not supposed to eat fast food, and he doesn't get it at home. But when he's out with his friends, I think he eats a lot of it.
Reply from need advice, Child's Age 11 - 10/26/24 - IP#: 185.169.0.xxx Part of why I missed how large my ds was getting was that my brother was taking him clothes shopping every time things got tight. I didn't really notice the clothes were getting bigger. Like my brother my ds is on the short side and is carrying a lot of weight in his front. At the doctors was the first time I had seen him without a baggy top on in a long time and it was shocking just how large his belly had gotten let alone his breasts. He also had a lot of stretch marks which I think is a sign of how rapidly he has put kn weight. Its been a few years since I last took him to the doctors but I was not expecting to see almost 200 lbs on the scale. I've talked with my brother again about what he feeds my ds but he doesn't see the problem. I told him that giving an 11 year old daily ice cream and all that fast food isn't good. He says he doesn't take him for fast food that often but when I asked my ds he said they get it on the way to school, he comes and drops some off at lunch in addition to what I have packed and then they get some on the way home (usually ice cream or milkshakes). Then sometimes there's extra late at night if my brother decides he's hungry.
Reply from Thomas, Child's Age 13 - 10/26/24 - IP#: 172.225.6.xxx Oh, that's not good. It can be hard to notice that your son is getting too fat when the environment is also getting heavier. At least that's the case with my son. Sometimes I don't realize how fat he is because the people around him, his friends and so on, are also relatively fat. Maybe your brother feels the same way. He just looks like a normal growing boy to him.
Reply from need advice, Child's Age 11 - 10/25/24 - IP#: 194.195.93.xxx I have tried. Since my brother came to live with us my ds has gained a lot of weight and I haven't been able to make him see that the two are connected. He just brushes it off and says he is a normal growing boy.
Reply from Thomas, Child's Age 13 - 10/25/24 - IP#: 172.225.190.xxx Oh, I see. That's difficult, of course. Then you need to talk to your brother as well. Get to the root of the problem. I hate to say it, but that's how your brother kills your son. Your brother should also lose weight.
Reply from need advice, Child's Age 11 - 10/25/24 - IP#: 194.195.93.xxx I've been trying but I'm not home much and my brother (his uncle) hasn't been helpful. He's a big guy (over 550 lbs) and drives my ds to school and picks him up. There's always fast food involved and then when he orders fast food he will get some for my ds. Most of the junk food is bought by him and then he puts stuff right into my ds' room. I work quite a bit but my brother is on disability due to his weight and some other health issues. He is like a father to my ds but I can't get him to see the danger of all the food he is giving him.
Reply from Thomas, Child's Age 13 - 10/25/24 - IP#: 104.28.45.xxx That is relatively big. You shouldn't rush things and hope for quick results. Change small things and gradually things will get better with him.
Reply from need advice, Child's Age 11 - 10/25/24 - IP#: 194.195.93.xxx My ds is 195 lbs. I'm not really sure on his friends but they are probably half his size.
Reply from Thomas, Child's Age 13 - 10/25/24 - IP#: 172.225.190.xxx Hello, if I may ask, how much does he weigh? And how much do his friends weigh? Children like to be carried along by their environment. It's like that with my son sometimes. You have to calmly explain to him what is best for him.
