How do I handle the weight problem of my child?
I have 2 boys, one aged 11 and one age 8. My 11 year old takes after me a lot. He is skinny to normal weight which is how I was as a kid, but I began to gain as a late teenager. I am concerned that at some point he will have a late weight issue like I did. My 8 year old is definitely overweight and takes after my husband - overweight pretty much since birth. It's already hard to find clothes for him. Fortunately, his schoolmates haven't teased him so far. Both boys eat pretty much the same things and are always outside, participate in sports, and walk to and from school. Our pediatrician has advised us to take my 8 year old to Children's Hospital of Philadelphia for a nutrition consultation to help him out and all four of us would participate in the program. I've never kept chips, cookies, junk in the house and he eats carrots, bananas, other healthier foods for snacks. How much will this program help him - does anyone know what this is about? I want to ask the doc questions, but I get emotional (cry) when it comes up at the doc's office and I feel foolish. I am under the impression that the pediatrician thinks he just plays video games all the time and gets no activity and eats junk all day long. I know he does get the usual snacks at school like every other kid, but why is HE overweight? What more can I do to help him? I don't want to harp on his eating and activities as my parents did to my sister and I. I know harping won't help, we got MO anyway. I have shared with them why I had WLS six months ago (for my health), and how I need to eat (healthy and no junk), and I take them with me when I go to the track each day. I just want him to be happy and healthy and avoid all of the pain and humiliation of being overweight, and not obsessed with food or weight. Please give me advice about what I should and should not do about his (our) problem.
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