Obesity Discussion Forums

[rebekahfc]

My mom told me I was obese and that I desperatley needed to lose some weight. She put me on an adult diet and made me stick to it. I hated it. I only got to eat a little for breakfast and tea. Anyway we went to my doctor. He told me I was only a little overweight. Maybe 10 - 11lbs at most. I was so happy. I want to eat healthily and exercise. Then he said I would grow into my weight.
But my mom still keeps me on this diet. I am very very confused. Why doesn't she listen to my doctor.

[dreamblooms]

Originally Posted by rebekahfc

My mom told me I was obese and that I desperatley needed to lose some weight. She put me on an adult diet and made me stick to it. I hated it. I only got to eat a little for breakfast and tea. Anyway we went to my doctor. He told me I was only a little overweight. Maybe 10 - 11lbs at most. I was so happy. I want to eat healthily and exercise. Then he said I would grow into my weight.
But my mom still keeps me on this diet. I am very very confused. Why doesn't she listen to my doctor.

Hon, you did the right thing, which is to think for yourself -- and reach out.

You sound very bright. Your mom used the words "obese" & "desperately needed...etc.," and your doctor disagreed. Now, it sometimes happens that adults are wrong, or a little wrong...even doctors. But yours said you're only a little overweight, so do try to lose 10-12 pounds -- although you should start your day with a good breakfast. I'm still curious. What kind of doctor is this? A pediatrician? Internist? It does sound un-doctorish to say you'll "grow into your weight." Think of talking to a school counselor. Also study web sites that are good (some are full of crackpots).

Some good sites are:

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH)
NHLBI Obesity Education Initiative
...and here's their page for Body Mass Index
Calculate your BMI - Standard BMI Calculator

There's also We Can (for kids):
NIH We Can! Home Page | National program for families and communities to prevent childhood overweight
At the bottom of the page, lower right, is their Contact Us link. Write to them. They'll write back. This is why they're there -- to listen to you and help you.

You are smart to want to eat healthy, get thin, and stay thin this early in your life. Study health, nutrition, avoid fat & carbs, and exercise. Walk as much as you can, keep the couch & the TV to an absolute minumum.

I wish you the very best of luck, health, and continued learning,

[Chrisydj]

well at 14 being 10-11 lbs overweight isnt to bad and as you go through puberty that weight will disappear if you are eating right and active. I would ask your doctor to talk to your mom about this diet she has you on.

[Obesity Discussion]

Originally Posted by rebekahfc

My mom told me I was obese and that I desperatley needed to lose some weight. She put me on an adult diet and made me stick to it. I hated it. I only got to eat a little for breakfast and tea. Anyway we went to my doctor. He told me I was only a little overweight. Maybe 10 - 11lbs at most. I was so happy. I want to eat healthily and exercise. Then he said I would grow into my weight.
But my mom still keeps me on this diet. I am very very confused. Why doesn't she listen to my doctor.

Rebekah,

This is a very difficult situation, because at the end of the day mom makes the rules! If you get some good exercise most days of the week, that has a similar effect as eating less food. Besides, "diets" are only short term fixes. What's best is a long term lifestyle change.

Think you could get your mom to post on here?

[vernitaearles]

Kudos to you girl! You're definitely on the right track with eating healthily and exercising on a regular basis. I think at your age (assuming that you're young since you've got an age to "grow into your weight") exercise is key. Be active, stay outside, go biking. Childhood obesity is no joke, people are still studying it today.

[dreamblooms]

Originally Posted by vernitaearles

Kudos to you girl! You're definitely on the right track with eating healthily and exercising on a regular basis. I think at your age (assuming that you're young since you've got an age to "grow into your weight") exercise is key. Be active, stay outside, go biking. Childhood obesity is no joke, people are still studying it today.

Um, that "grow into your weight?" No. Even the term is alarming. Adjust your mindset while you're still young. Our town has 12-year-olds who can't find jeans big enough to fit them. Kids have far fewer coping abilities than adults, being overweight & teased makes them depressed...so they eat even more.

Get thin & stay thin while you're still young. As far as "exercise working off the weight," you'd have to walk miles to work off one donut. Exercise never catches up to eating wrong.

Avoid fat & unhealthy carbs as much as possible. Don't get stressed about it -- the opposite. Try to calm down. Take it slow, just make healthy eating a plan for a lifetime...and start now.

[Obesity Discussion]

Originally Posted by dreamblooms

Um, that "grow into your weight?" No. Even the term is alarming. Adjust your mindset while you're still young. Our town has 12-year-olds who can't find jeans big enough to fit them. Kids have far fewer coping abilities than adults, being overweight & teased makes them depressed...so they eat even more.

Get thin & stay thin while you're still young. As far as "exercise working off the weight," you'd have to walk miles to work off one donut. Exercise never catches up to eating wrong.

Avoid fat & unhealthy carbs as much as possible. Don't get stressed about it -- the opposite. Try to calm down. Take it slow, just make healthy eating a plan for a lifetime...and start now.

[MikeB]

I can't tell from your profile what your weight/height is. Depending on your muscle mass it can be deceiving, my son is 13, 5'9" and 185lbs but he's around 15% bodyfat and SUPER ACTIVE and strong. According to BMI & charts he's overweight but according to his pictures he's not....