Obesity Discussion Forums

[Kel]

About a week ago I met my old school mate Kate again. I haven't seen her and her kids for about seven years I think and I was very excited to see them again. But when I saw her son I was totally shocked. This kid got so fat-it is really unbelievable. And he is just six years old! I knew that Kate loves eating and she is also a little chubby too. So probably he already eats as much as his mother does. I am really sorry for this small kid and I am not sure if he could lose weight if his mother also loves eating so much. So I was wondering if he could go to something like a fat lose camp where he could lose weight. I don't think that his mother could help him-she also never does any sports! Does anyone have information about these camps?

[Obesity Discussion]

Fat camps are really just a bandaid unfortunately if the situation at home is not conducive for a healthy lifestyle...that's what needs to change. There are a few camps posted throughout this forum, in the fat camp section, let me know if you're having trouble finding them.

[Kel]

Thanks a lot for the quick answer. I will try to find some information about the camps. I might give her the adresses and the information afterwards, but I am not sure if she would recommend my effort. But I am really helpless. I know that this kid definitely needs to lose weight, but I don't think that the mother has already come to this conclusion. But it is at least a try.

[Obesity Discussion]

In all honesty, it sounds like the mother is the real problem. The kid will go right back where they started from as soon as they get back home.

[Audrey]

Originally Posted by Kel

Thanks a lot for the quick answer. I will try to find some information about the camps. I might give her the adresses and the information afterwards, but I am not sure if she would recommend my effort. But I am really helpless. I know that this kid definitely needs to lose weight, but I don't think that the mother has already come to this conclusion. But it is at least a try.

I hate to say it, but I can see the mother getting really offended by this. I'm sure deep-down she'll know that you're just trying to be helpful and get her son healthy, but she may take it really poorly

Anyway you can kind of tip-toe around it and see if she realizes it's a problem? Maybe she does and she just doesn't know what to do, or how to ask for help? Or maybe she doesn't see any problem (rose coloured mother glasses).

[Kel]

I don't think that she sees her son's weight problem. Even if I would tell her. Nevertheless I think that is the first step I have to do. It is not me who could apply for a placement the fat camp-it has to be her. And she must be sure about what she is doing otherwise you are probably right: The kid will go right back as soon as he gets back home. It won't be easy, but I will talk to her about the problem. I really hope she will understand!

[Obesity Discussion]

I wish you luck with this, but do keep us posted! I'm curious to hear the results!

[Kel]

I called her again and asked her if she has time to meet again this weekend. Unfortunately she hasn't and I don't think that it is a good idea to talk to her about this problem on this phone. I guess it is better to do it personally. The problem is that she lives four hours away from my house. So it's not possible to stop by for an hour in the afternoon. Anyways I told her that I really need to talk to her and she said that we could meet next weekend. I will let you know about our talk then!

[Obesity Discussion]

Good luck! We had a very similar thread about a touchy subject here before, although it was someone looking to talk to their mother about losing weight. I don't think that went over so well either.

[Kel]

Finally I met Kate again this afternoon. Actually I didn't have any time but I couldn't get this issue out of my head. So I had to meet her. Unfortunately I wasn't very successful. She didnn't see any problem. She even yelled at me and told me that I shouldn't take a hand in her education. But I don't want to give up. I really hope that she thinks about the whole issue again at home and I am going to try it again next week!

[Obesity Discussion]

Bummer Kel, sorry to hear it didn't work out better for you. I wouldn't give up, ever. You've got a great attitude and hopefully she'll take the blinders off and see reality.

[Kel]

No you are right and I don't want to give up. That is why I met her again yesterday. First she didn't want to see me again, but luckily I was able to convince her. I was so happy when it turned out that she had at least thought about her the situation. But still she doesn't want to see my worry. Nevertheless I advised her to go to a doctor with her son. I told her that I would never bother her again if the doctor would say that everything is all right. She thinks that everything will be okay and that is probably the reason why she finally said "yes". I am so glad about this!

[Audrey]

Originally Posted by Kel

No you are right and I don't want to give up. That is why I met her again yesterday. First she didn't want to see me again, but luckily I was able to convince her. I was so happy when it turned out that she had at least thought about her the situation. But still she doesn't want to see my worry. Nevertheless I advised her to go to a doctor with her son. I told her that I would never bother her again if the doctor would say that everything is all right. She thinks that everything will be okay and that is probably the reason why she finally said "yes". I am so glad about this!

That's great news! Now here's hoping her doctor isn't one of those people that thinks the kid will "grow out of it". Best to teach him healthy eating and exercise habits when he's young, instead of having him grow up unhappy.

[Kel]

Originally Posted by Audrey

That's great news! Now here's hoping her doctor isn't one of those people that thinks the kid will "grow out of it". Best to teach him healthy eating and exercise habits when he's young, instead of having him grow up unhappy.

Yeah I also hope so. To shorten this risk I have already lasked my doctor if he knows some good pediatrist in her area. Luckily he was able to give me two addresses and I think that she will call on one of them. Well she promised to call me when she has been there! I will talk to you later about the results!

[Obesity Discussion]

Great news, and good for you for not giving up!!!

[Kel]

Kate just wrote me a short message to tell me that she has an appointment with her son at a pediatrician tomorrow. I was so relieved when I got the short message. Honestly I didn't believe that she would really call a doctor. But I am so glad that she did. She promised to call me when she gets back. Now I am just hoping that the doctor is able to convince her that she has to change the behaviour of eating of her son!

[Obesity Discussion]

Originally Posted by Kel

Kate just wrote me a short message to tell me that she has an appointment with her son at a pediatrician tomorrow. I was so relieved when I got the short message. Honestly I didn't believe that she would really call a doctor. But I am so glad that she did. She promised to call me when she gets back. Now I am just hoping that the doctor is able to convince her that she has to change the behaviour of eating of her son!

Incredible!! Hopefully she follows through! Seeing the doctor is one think but heeding his/her advice is another!

[Kel]

Finally Kate called me again. I was so curious to hear what the doctor has told her. She seemed to be very unhappy while she was telling me about the appointment. Recapitulatory I can say that the doctor affirms my worries. He gave Kate a special diet plan for her son. I really hope that both of them will stick to it and that the kid will finally lose lots of weight!

[Audrey]

Originally Posted by Kel

Finally Kate called me again. I was so curious to hear what the doctor has told her. She seemed to be very unhappy while she was telling me about the appointment. Recapitulatory I can say that the doctor affirms my worries. He gave Kate a special diet plan for her son. I really hope that both of them will stick to it and that the kid will finally lose lots of weight!

That is great news!

Maybe she's upset that she didn't notice it? Or didn't think it was a problem? But it's in the best interests of her son so I hope they stick to it!

I think you can call this your good deed for the year

[Kel]

Yeah I also think that she was very upset when she got these bad news. She has never though of an obesity problem. So she was understandably very shocked I would say. I just hope that she sticks to the diet of her son. She has to explain the problem to him and tell him about the consequences of obesity.
Well thanks that you would call this my good deed :-) Well I just felt like I have to do something for this poor kid. Now he is still young and he can do something against his weight problem, but we all know how difficult it becomes to lose weight when you get older :-)