weight issues 13 year old

[Shorty]

Also, sorry for the length of this, but any ideas would be great! Thanks in advance!!!

My mom is a bit concerned about my kid brother and so I told her I would ask everyone I know for input....Here goes:

:help:

My little brother is 13. He is relatively active: he fences at least 3 times a week (not including competitions), he rides his bike and scooter a lot, loves to go swimming at the community pool (indoor and outdoor)and just generally likes to play outside with his friends if they are available. I'd venture and say that he is probably in better shape than I am! :-/ He also likes to spend time playing video games though (and he is a tv muncher, like me!)

He is short for his age but his legs are very fit, and so are his arms, the problem is that he has a sort of "beer belly" type thing going on. He has had it for a very long time, but he's starting to notice that some of the kids stare at his stomach, especially if he is wearing a swimsuit or something like that and is becoming self-concious about it.

I've talked to my mom about making healthier eating options like getting less fast food for the kid, as that's what he usually eats after school, monitoring portions so that he doesn't eat a whole bag of chips while he's playing a video games. She always gives in though because she feels guilty, but that's another story--and he always reaches for junk food because he claims it's "easier" than "preparing" fruit or veggies (even if they are prewashed and cut). :wall:

Anyways, does anyone have any suggestions as to what would help him lose his belly? His doctor just says, "He needs to lose weight and get in shape" but doesn't offer any suggestions. He and I go swimming all the time, but it doesn't seem to help...and I don't know what else to do w/out damaging his self esteem.

Thanks so much everyone!

Have a great day

[greensgood]

you are a wonderful sister, its great that you are concerned with his weight and want to help. seems like your mom is the main issue here and the foods she keeps allowing him to eat, the bottom line is he is a kid and she is responsible for giving him healthy choices. does she have the same concern as you for his weight and more importantly self-esteem?

[MZCsmpsns]

I'm not sure. Do you ever sit with him while he plays video games? If so maybe you guys could munch on like carrots and celery together or air popped pop corn, unsalted nuts etc... Maybe if someone is with him eating healthy snacks he won't mind it so much. I'm pretty sure cardio is the best way to lose a belly, which sounds like he's pretty active, but if his diet is still packed w/fast food and bags of chips, it's not going to do much good. Your mom is going to have to change what she feeds him, but maybe with a healthy influence he'll start saying no to junk food and not wanting it as much anymore.

[zoebird]

what you suggested is what will do it.

seriously, if there's no fast food aroudn (that is, she doesn't give it to him/buy it for him), and there's no junk food in the house (no chips, etc), then he can't have them and therefore something else would be eassier.

[vheogl]

Hmm if he's that active are you sure his diet is to blame? Most teenage boys i know eat rubbish and still maintain a healthy weight, active or not. Has his doctor actually checked his thyroid function etc? Seems a bit odd to me that if he's that active that even eating a fair amount he'd not maintain/lose weight. Has he had a growth spurt yet? began early signs of puberty? Maybe he'll even out as he grows.

[Shorty]

He hasn't really hit puberty yet. He's still only about 4'10" or so (He's about my height). I'm pretty sure my mom has talked to his doc about thyroid issues and diabetes and things like that because we do have a family history of that stuff. I'll check with her to make sure though. I'll also check in to see what kind of snacks they have in the house...maybe I'll just bring him over here and he can munch on the foods I have here! Lol

Thanks for the suggestions so far!

[Star*Shine]

It could be salt content and drinking soda causing him to be bloated. I have this problem and notice a big difference when I don't drink carbonated drinks. Plus, the amount of sugar in those is really enough to make him gain a lot of weight, maybe that would be the first answer. If your mom feels it's hard to say no, then maybe she can just avoid bringing the junky stuff home, because if he can't get a lot of it, he will choose whatever is there. Maybe you could offer to do the shopping for awhile, and avoid buying it, and get some healthier options if you know your brothers likes and dislikes. Being a fat teen will impact his life in a major way, I know how it is to be overweight, and atually being veggie was the only time the pounds came off...

[s0ad]

I used to have major weight issues around that time also.

I started to lose weight - without aid from my parents - when I was round 15/16.

Honestly, I resent them to this day for letting me get to the size that I got to. I was about 60 pounds more overweight, had difficulty finding clothes, was made fun of, etc.

I'm not saying you brother is at this point, or he will be made fun of, but kids are cruel.

Honestly, at that age, I wasn't too aware of my food choices, and wasn't buying them. My parents were, and they knew the consequences. Unfortunately my parents kind of show their love through food (we're a very stereotypical Italian family in terms of food...)

Anyway, it seems obvious that cutting out fast food and bags of potato chips will help.

I used to eat tons of fast food, usually after a softball game or practice, and it became a very bad habit. I think it also contributed to a lot of my depression issues.

I was some what active, but the bad foods way surpassed any activities I was doing. Some are luckily to have great metabolisms (my bf has always eaten junk, and always been skinny) but some have to work to stay fit in all regards. This is really evident in my family. My brother used to watch his weight, stopped, and has been gaining lots of weight quickly. Same goes for many other members, and I know it would happen to me too. Its unfortunate, but its nature.

Anyway, I think the best thing to do is just stop buying chips, cookies, and foods he has trouble controlling his portions with. It may seem hard, but its the easiest thing to do. If its not there, its not an option, and its not a temptation. It'll be very hard, and I'm sure some kind of complaining will follow, but its best in the long run. Then I would start slowly reintroducing some foods (healthier versions, maybe organic cookies, etc) and control portions.

I know many parents want to give their kids what they want and make them happy, but they're honestly just hurting them in the long run.

If cutting back the junk doesn't work, then a doctor's visit may be helpful. But honestly, its good to cut back on the junk regardless. I'm sure my boyfriend's insides aren't too healthy though he may look it.

[gingerlove]

My little brother is 13.

He is short for his age but his legs are very fit, and so are his arms, the problem is that he has a sort of "beer belly" type thing going on. He has had it for a very long time, but he's starting to notice that some of the kids stare at his stomach, especially if he is wearing a swimsuit or something like that and is becoming self-concious about it.


when i was 9-13 i was pretty over weight. but the summer after middle school i grew pretty tall all of a sudden. my fat relocated itself and i looked pretty good.

maybe he is going to do the same thing.
here is a before and after pic in case your curious
this was during the summer, i dont have any of my fat fat pix, but i was bigger then this.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v630/newpethamster/scan0004.jpg

and here is a kinda embarrassing pic of me just a few months after that one was taken
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v630/newpethamster/hmmm.jpg

from there i just kept getting thinner and taller.

[Shorty]

Thanks everyone.

I have a feeling that the weight will hopefully even out as he starts to grow, but my whole family is short and my dad was about 4'9" (the same height as my bro) until he was about 16 or 17.

nd he does drink a lot of soda and things like that that, so maybe we'll look into that as well.

Hopefully talking to my mom about it, and seeing if they cut back on their "convenience foods" will help some. I'll talk to them about it later tonight...

BTW--Happy Mother's Day everyone!

[rosiem]

How about healthier 'junk food' options? Often they are better than the junkier option.

Stuff like:

~Baked pita chips instead of potato chips (The brand of pita chips I buy are super yummy, with only 4% of your fat intake for the day, instead of more like 20%)

~Carbonated fruit juice instead of pop.

~Natural dried fruit/fruit leather. (you can get kinds made with fruit and vegetables that are actually quite good)

~Popcorn with olive oil instead of butter. (I can't tell the difference)

~Tamari roasted almonds. (easy to make at home)

~Soy nuts. (again, easy to make at home. Maple roasted ones are especially good)

~Fruit smoothies.

~Chocolate milk. (Sorry vegans! But the skim milk kind is pretty low in fat, and actually less sugar than in most juices, plus lots of calcium and protein)

[Shorty]

How about healthier 'junk food' options? Often they are better than the junkier option.

Stuff like:

~Baked pita chips instead of potato chips (The brand of pita chips I buy are super yummy, with only 4% of your fat intake for the day, instead of more like 20%)

~Carbonated fruit juice instead of pop.

~Natural dried fruit/fruit leather. (you can get kinds made with fruit and vegetables that are actually quite good)

~Popcorn with olive oil instead of butter. (I can't tell the difference)

~Tamari roasted almonds. (easy to make at home)

~Soy nuts. (again, easy to make at home. Maple roasted ones are especially good)

~Fruit smoothies.

~Chocolate milk. (Sorry vegans! But the skim milk kind is pretty low in fat, and actually less sugar than in most juices, plus lots of calcium and protein)

Those sound yummy. You're making me hungry! Lol :rockon: I think I'll take him to Whole Foods today after he gets out of school...I know they have all that yummy stuff that he could chose from. Also, I think I saw a program in their flier where they teach kids about healthy eating. I think I'll look into that too