Question:
My daughter is 5'9" and weighs 170 lbs at age 14. She eats very quickly and eats a lot. I had trouble with my weight all my life, and I'm concerned that she will too, but I've been trying to refrain from making comments, as she has ignored any advice I've tried to pass along. In the past she was active in sports, but now has not made the school teams, and doesn't want to go to the Y with me to work out. I think she is experimenting with throwing up after meals and I am not sure what to do next. Any advice?Answer:
ParentingTeensOnline expert Kendrin Sonneville, M.S., R.D., L.D.N. is a clinical dietician specialist at Childrens' Hospital Boston. She answers:
Your daughter's height/weight puts her in the "at risk for overweight" category. This doesn't necessarily mean that she will struggle with her weight as an adult, but the eating habits you described (eating a lot of food and eating quickly) combined with the lack of sports could increase this risk. It is great that you make an effort to avoid making comments about these habits. Although it is often difficult to stand by silently when your child has worrisome behaviors, it is generally best to avoid making comments about food and weight since these topics are so highly charged and comments are often misinterpreted.
Many adolescent go through periods of unhealthful or erratic eating habits that usually don't need to be formally addressed. If you suspect that your daughter is experimenting with throwing up after meals, however, this issue should be addressed quickly because of the health risks and the effectiveness of early intervention. It is important to know that eating disorders are diseases of denial and secrecy, so it is common for someone who is experimenting with disordered eating behaviors to deny symptoms. For this reason, enlisteing the support of trained clinicialns including a medical provider, a mental health provider, and a nutristiont is stonrly recommended. If you are fairly certain that she is engaging in this behavior, you could consider talking with your daughter (not while she is eating or after she has just eaten) about your observations. Let her know what your concerns are and that you would like her to see her medical provider about this issue. Although she i s likely to resist talking with her doctor, maintain that you are not an expert in this area and that you would feel more comfortable if you enlisted an expert opinion. Once a medical provider is on board, an evaluation of the presence/severity of symptoms can take place and other treatment-related recommendations could be made, as needed.