200 LB, 8 years old

have you read/seen this story? the authorities are discussing whether to take custody of the young boy. i totally agree with some of the experts who are calling this child abuse. what do you all think?

Tue. Feb 27, 11:01am

Could you provide a link?

Tuesday, February 27, 2007, 11:02 AM

here is a video link from cnn

Link

Tuesday, February 27, 2007, 11:04 AM

and from AOL, an article. the 2 sites offer different weights for the boy, but you get the idea.

Link

Tuesday, February 27, 2007, 11:05 AM

Wow, that is one big boy! I think that he should be taken into protective custody. It makes me sad. I would think that if my child has so unhealthy and at such a risk, I would do anything and everything in my power to get him healthy. The article claims that she misses appointments with doctors and nutritionists. That tells me that she is not doing her part as the adult. That reads as neglect to me. Poor boy, he is just a child, he needs someone to stand up for him and take care of him.

Tuesday, February 27, 2007, 11:39 AM

Get that boy some Broccoli!

Tuesday, February 27, 2007, 11:48 AM

To 11:39 poster:

I agree. The boy simply doesn't know any better, he is only 8! Feed him what he needs not what he wants. The doctor's response said it all: "They actually love him to death."

The poor boy is missing school, missing doctor's appointments, has no social life and gets teased. The boy and mother both need help.

Tuesday, February 27, 2007, 12:24 PM

We had a debate in my Grade 7/8 class about this boy this morning. My students were not really sure who to blame but had good arguements for both sides. As an educator I have seen the rise of childhood obe Parents also need to model healthy eating habits.sity. The children suffer physically and emotionally. Good eating habits need to start when they are babies. If they are not given junk food on a regular basis and are given fruit and veggies they will like them. Parents also need to model healthy eating habits.

Tuesday, February 27, 2007, 2:06 PM

the mother remains his guardian. i think it's disgraceful!! the parents who starved their children got jail time. this is so wrong to abuse the little boy this way!!

Tuesday, February 27, 2007, 3:47 PM

I agree that he should be taken into protective custody. Did you read his menu? He has snacks every 20 minutes - that is definite abuse!!!!

Tuesday, February 27, 2007, 4:30 PM

I admit that I haven't read the articles yet (I'm sneaking a post from work lol), but I've got to weigh in (no pun intended) at least a little bit on the other side...

I DID hear a news brief about it on the radio. I know nothing about the missed appointments and such, but I *DO* understand about the mother's statement (quoted on the radio) about "what do you do when he is begging for food?"

My daughter just turned 11, and she is 140 pounds. Of course, she is also nearly 5'2" already, but she still qualifies definitely as overweight, if not into the obese category herself. Like the mother in the story, what DO you do, when the child is complaining that he/she is starving? Even healthy foods will make you fat if you eat too much of them. I severely restrict junk food, only allow her to drink sugarless drinks (crystal lite, koolaid made with splenda, diet cola (occasionally), water, etc) and encourage her to snack on fruits or veggies when she has just "gotta" have more food, but she is STILL quite large for her age & height.

She can match the amount of dinner that I eat, and a few hours later when I'm still feeling full, she is complaining that she is starved again.

What else can I do? I've TRIED to get her to ignore it & "train" her stomach not to expect food in the evenings, but it isn't working. "Mommy, I'm STARVING!" is the daily refrain.

She has swimming, baton, gymnastics (45 minutes each) & curling (1.5 hours) once each per week, gym classes & recess play time at school, walks home from school every day, and she goes to Curves with me 3-4 times a week.

Tuesday, February 27, 2007, 4:34 PM

I think we'd need more info before we could call it abuse. I would like to know if this child has been tested for that disease that cause people to never feel full. But judging from his typical day I would say this mom needs to lock up the food and stock better foods. She controls what this kid eats and if need be she'll have to listen to a lot of whining and crying and he'll have to spend a lot of time in his room. But it also looks like mom pretty much eats like crap also. Where are the veggies and fruits? If she gives him this stuff this is what hes used to eating which means she has been feeding him like this for years. This should have been nipped in the bud when he was 2 or better when he started eating solid foods. So yes with what we've seen and read I would say in the interest of the child he should be taken away. Or she needs to be monitored what she is buying and cooking and he needs to be more active.

Tuesday, February 27, 2007, 4:42 PM

I'm sorry 4:34 nobody ever got fat from eating fruit and veggies. You should also be concerned about your daughter. Even at 5'2 140 pounds is to heavy for her, especially at her age. Have you talked to her doctor about it? Maybe she just doesn't really know what it is like to be hungry, maybe she's getting boredom confused with hunger.

Tuesday, February 27, 2007, 4:50 PM

To 4:34 poster, maybe the artificial sweeteners are partly to blame. I've heard that people who drink diet soda are often more overweight than people who drink regular soda. I'm not encouraging you to give her regular soda, but to cut back on the artificial stuff.

Tuesday, February 27, 2007, 7:02 PM

Why drink soda at all? Its just wasted calories and it also makes some people more thirsty not to mention the bloat factor. There is just no need to drink that or fruit juices. Better to eat the fruit.

Tuesday, February 27, 2007, 9:29 PM

feelings of gnawing hunger when one can't possibly be hungry

4:34
I've mentioned this before in other threads, but maybe it will help you and your daughter. I have "silent reflux," which is acid reflux that doesn't cause heartburn in the typical sense. It can result from a poor closure between the top of the stomach and the bottom of the esophagus. Anyway, the result is that I feel HUNGRY ALL THE TIME. I'm not actually in need of food, but I experience gnawing hunger -- that is how my brain "reads" the pain of acid reflux. You might get your daughter checked out for this -- I know that something as simple as a Prilosec prescription really helped me out.

One clue-in symptom is as you described, after a largish dinner stomach acid production kicks in, and then I have an even stronger sensation that I am starving!

Tuesday, February 27, 2007, 10:04 PM

4:34pm here.

First off, I *AM* concerned about my daughter's weight, of course. Why do you think I do try to restrict both the amount and the types of food she eats?

She has been at the high end of the weight scale all her life, starting with being born 3 weeks early at 8 1/2 pounds. (I had gestational diabetes), and staying in the 85-90th percentile or higher ever since.

And the artificial sweeteners are a recent change. She used to basically drink milk, some juice, and the occasional regular pop (she loves root beer). She isn't much of a drinker at all. She usually only drinks water in the morning (to take her vitamin & ADD medication), milk at school with her lunch, milk or nothing at dinner, sips at most of my diet coke in the evening and water before bed.

She has dropped most of the milk, taking Crystal Lite to school for lunch instead, sometimes drinking a small glass of diet coke with dinner and into the evening, and still water morning & night.

I know for a growing child that I cannot put her on a weight LOSS diet/regime. We're working on trying to MAINTAIN her weight where it is, while she grows into it. Not doing too badly. She has only gained about 10 lbs over the past 6 months, while gaining about 4 inches in height, and beginning to develop "woman shape" (boobs & hips). Her body fat percentage has gone down a few points during this time.

I don't think it is an "I'm bored" kind of hunger, judging from the circumstances surrounding when she is usually asking for "a snack".

Thank you 10:04pm. I WILL look into the "silent reflux". Seems like a possibility, as I'm just flabbergasted at the amount she eats & how soon after that she is hungry again.

Tuesday, February 27, 2007, 10:58 PM

to 434
my first thought is, you know she's NOT starving when she complains that she is. you need to make sure she has some lessons on self-control and is not going to remain in the habit of giving in to every urge to eat. help her to evaluate the situation-remind her that she isn't starving. teach her about why one eats-for fuel, not for fun. maybe get her an illustrated book on the human body and digestive system and the ways they work. if she has a better understanding about how her body is supposed to function, she will have something to which to compare her own body. i suggest with earnest that you watch the video link and read the article. you may find help within this boy's story and the solution they are trying to find for his situation. it's probably healthier for your daughter to experience a bit of disappointment with regard to not eating whenever she wants than to experience the types of health problems associated with being obese-not to mention the psychological and emotional turmoil of going throught that as a teen!! i know from first-hand experience.

Wednesday, February 28, 2007, 8:16 AM

140 lbs is extremely heavy for someone who is that young and 5'2". When I was 14, I was 5'2" and 106 lbs. I am now 5'5" and 140, in my 20s and even I need to lose some weight.
To 4:34, you mentioned that you're working on maintaining her weight? I'm not a doctor or anything, but is that really safe? For her height she should weigh about 110.

Wednesday, February 28, 2007, 12:34 PM

replacing milk with crystal light and diet soda is not the best option. as a developing young woman, she need the calcium and nutrients that milk provides to help with bone density. why not replace whole milk with 1% or skim instead of simulated-sugar drinks? maybe, and i'm only trying to offer helpful advice here, the both of you could enroll in some nurtition classes or join a weight watchers group for youth in your area. learning together will help you both evaluate where the biggest triggers are for her and for you-when you give in. and inform her of the beauty benefits of drinking more water if the health impact is not having any effect.

Wednesday, February 28, 2007, 12:42 PM

A good weight would depend upon a child's build. If she is big boned and muscular, than 125 lbs is not an unreasonable weight for someone who is 5'2". I think that 110 is an ideal weight only for someone who is thin boned and not muscular. 140 lbs is obviously high, but I think that growing into that weight is not a bad thing to do. Good luck with your daughter, but I think that you have the right attitude and that your method is good.

Wednesday, February 28, 2007, 2:57 PM

4:34 here again

Thanks for all the comments, folks.

I forgot to mention that SHE asked me to switch to buying Skim milk and brown bread (instead of 2% & white that I have always bought) after nutrition classes she had in school She still drinks milk, just not as much as she used to.

To the poster who asked about maintaining vs weight loss -- no, 140 isn't a great weight, but it isn't healthy to put a growing child on weight LOSS. It can stunt their growth, and/or cause other problems. I forget exactly what (if I ever knew), but her doctor & the health experts I've spoken to all agree on that.

And, like me, she is big boned with a fairly large frame. And again like me, she is only "fat" in the tummy/torso area. Her legs & arms are fine. Muscular, even. She is a runner. Fastest girl in her grade. :-)

They figure she'll be 5"8" or so when she is done growing. I think if we can keep her to 140-150 lbs until then, she should slim down & curve up quite nicely. THEN, after her teen years are done, if she is still overweight, we can work on weight loss instead of maintenance.

Wednesday, February 28, 2007, 9:04 PM

My goodness, if she really grew 4 inches in 6 months I'd say she does need to be eating quite a bit! If you and she are successful in keeping her at the same weight and she does grow to 5'8", she will certainly have grown out of her "puppy fat." Good luck with it!

Wednesday, February 28, 2007, 9:19 PM

please, don't go by weight, go by the fat percentage!!! I'm 5'6- my LEAN body mass is about 130lbs- so my "ideal" weight is 163, and most people assume that 163 is way too heavy for someone 5'6" - according to the BMI it would make me overweight, but 20% BF is NOT overweight.... I've never had a perosn accurately guess my weight by looking at me. Most of the time, they assume I weigh 160, not the 180 I do...

Wednesday, February 28, 2007, 11:31 PM

4:34 Even growing 4 inches and her gain of 10 pounds is a lot. I'm not trying to be mean but it is. Even kids as little as 4 & 5 while growing don't gain 10 pounds in 6 months, maybe over the course of a year. I also get the feeling that you think the gestational diabetes might have something to do with it? I had gestational diabetes also and was induced 2 weeks early, my daughter was almost 7.5 pounds but now she is 3 and 36.5 inches and weighs 30 pounds. She's pretty small as far as her percentile range goes, I think for height she is midline for a girl but weight she is in the 5%. So having had GD doesn't realsly play into it. I do think its important for her not to end up with body image issues though and I think any girl put on a diet at that age has the possibility of ending up with major issues.

Thursday, March 1, 2007, 2:35 AM

4:34

sounds like she is doing a great job with her daughter. I always had the belly as well when I was younger- was tall for my age (looking back I seemed pretty thin at that point in arms and legs- and now I am 5"8. I remember being hungry all the time as well. Seemed the more my mom tried to tell me to wait 20 min and or just drink water- etc. the more I felt hungry and rebellious. Our house had no sweets or snacks either (when I met my husband and we lived together, moved in, he asked me where I wanted the snack cabinet, and I had no idea what the heck that was) I have always battled weight- and have some food issues I am getting over now as when I got out by myself I just ate what I wanted and as much as I wanted because I did not have my mother hovering over me telling me what I couldn't have and how much.

She sounds really active and healthy... kudos to your efforts. (I was in ballet- klutzy and akward-dancing none the less)

Thursday, March 1, 2007, 6:08 PM

2/27 at 4:34. Eat healthy your self. Go on the new WW I f you can't help yourself eat out the junk not in front of her. If she doesn't want to diet don't force her. Just keep healthy food in the house. There are foods you can eat in unlimited amonts they are o pionts on WW ( Speggetti squash is great ! SF jello FF whipped cream only has 5 calories for 2 table spoons Most of all. Do not lecteur. Be an example. Show her how much you love her no matter what. Our otter bodies is just a shell for our souls.. When she fails Oh Well! Tell her Thomas Edison failed over a thousand times before he invented the light bulb. Quitters never win and winners never quit! Good Luck. Oh yeah when she

Saturday, March 3, 2007, 7:56 AM

To 4:34

You Might want to check into her ADD meds, I believe they are known to increase appetites and cause Weight Gain. The best of luck to you, you seem like you're doing the right things!

Friday, July 11, 2008, 5:25 AM

To the parent who posted about her child being hungry all the time - please restrict the amount you feed your child. Trust me, her weight will only increase. I know because I had the same issue when I was young. My auntie would always feed me when I told her I was hungry. Now look at me... struggling with my weight. A lifetime of bad habits is hard to break. Break it now please.

Monday, July 21, 2008, 4:21 PM

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