Replies to '06/21 Little Boys, Big Weight Problems'

I've known children like that, too. A neighbor boy who played outside with my son and got plenty of exercise. His mother said they didn't have any sweets in the house and that his favorite food was fruit. Since your son is tall for his age as well you just might have a future NBA star there. I hope the little boys on the show, aren't made so aware of their weight and food issues that it takes over their childhood. The mother and grandmother need to quit arguing about what the little boy eats and just *quit bringing the junk in the house!* If I were the mother of one of those boys I would, never buy foods that contain, sugar, corn syrup or transfats. They wouldn't be there either as rewards or special treats and they certainly wouldn't be locked in a cupboard like pirates treasure! They would not exist in my home. Those foods are bad for everyone. I wouldn't say anything, but I would let my child see the supply dwindle away as he ate his last Twinkies and chips. Then, after that, when he asked for them, I would say that we didn't have any. If he asked me to buy some I would say, "No, we weren't going to get anymore because they aren't good for us." My son never tasted sugary cereals, soft drinks, or sweetened juice until he was old enough to go to over-nights and parties. He thought candy was something you had at Halloween and cookies were strictly a Christmas thing. His Easter basket was full of hot wheels and other small toys.Children have short memories. If the junk isn't in their homes they will forget all about it in a few weeks and be eating the cheese and apple slices put before them.

I have a friend whose daughter is nearly a year older then my own. Her daughter is nearly twice the size of my little girl. I am not just talking weight but also height. This little girl does not eat a substantial amount of junk food and her father does well in stopping her from eating too much in a sitting. They are looking into a pituitary gland and running tests. Dr are not too concerned because she is at least height weight proportionate.... just off the charts for her age.  However these cases are rare, and the parents are visibly doing what they can to insure the health of their daughter, it would be very easy for them to allow her to eat as much as she wants and then her weight would be out of control. She has developmental disorders as well and I see her father working very hard to keep her active. I applaud them for their efforts but I do not see the same efforts being made with the children on the show. If there is a medical issue then Dr. Phil is right... that just means they need to monitor the food intake even more.

I watch the health channel alot and lately they have been having alot of shows on overweight people.  For most its over eating and eating the wrong kinds of foods, but their was one family where the mother, father and a sibling were normal height and weight...none of them overweight one bit, but their son was very much overweight.  They all ate healthy so the family couldn't understand why their son just kept packing on the weight.  As a teenager he was able to get that gastrist bypass surgery. (sorry about my spelling on that).  Some time afterwards they showed him and he was very thin and much happier.  I am hearing on the media that for some people they don't seem to know when they are full and it may have been that case for this young man.  He ate quiet alot!  But wasn't using up enough engery to burn it off.  I am hoping soon they can come up with some sort of medical test on individuals showing if they have this chemical problem where they cannot tell when they are full.  I get full so quickly its frustrating...especially when the food is good and I want to eat more, I just can't.  But at the same time I am thankful so this way I don't have to worry about a weight problem.   Good luck on the drs figuring it out.