Food over eating

[Rupertthebear]

Hi ,

My son who is now 20 y old has started to eat too much since September 2022. He has gone from 68kg to 86kg . I really don’t know what to do he gets very aggressive about his food and has too many snacks etc like crisps and biscuits at break time for lunch sometimes he buys them at college if I don’t give it to him . When he comes home at 4pm he says he’s starving and wants to eat straight away . It’s like a fight all the time over food . He is on a steroid medication that causes weight gain . He used to do a lot of swimming before but since September we cut down on it . I find it difficult to take him all the time.

[Jofisher]

This is so very difficult for you and probably hard for you mr son as well. Please speak to whoever put I’m on this medication and if it’s really necessary or is there an alternative he could take. Or you could try Speaking to Beat the eating disorder charity to see if they can help advise you. I wish you luck I really do.

[Rupertthebear in reply to Jofisher]

Hi Jo ,

Thank you for your reply and good to hear from you and hoping all is well with your son. Unfortunately he can’t do with out the medication .So I don’t really have many choices although I know I have to get tough at times with him -sometimes when he’s poorly I let him have fizzy drinks especially when he’s low on sugar but I am putting a blanket ban on it now . While I was training I h him to go out independently and do some shopping he’s managed to buy chocolates and sweets so it’s a difficult balance . Sometimes I don’t have the energy at my age to run around taking him to gym etc .

[Jofisher in reply to Rupertthebear]

bless you it’s so hard isn’t it, does he have anyone of his own age that supports him that would’ve a good role model for him and who could encourage him to go out and to be active. Jut a thought if he has money to do that through his never fits etc or a family member. You’re clearly doing your best so what else can we do, and the old we get the harder it is for us as well.

[49Twister]

Hi, Do you not get direct payments to support your son, where you could pay someone to take him to the gym or swimming, if this is something he enjoys. I totally understand where your coming from when your responsible for everything and get so weary and downtrodden. I still feel like this and I’m 73 and my son is 48. My son is in supported living now but his weight is constantly an issue. He also goes to college (at his age) as not much else for him to do, but he loves going. It’s impossible to know what their doing 24/7 as he also is buying snacks etc throughout the day. It’s quite sad to see but a lot of young adults who have learning issues with some independence are overweight. I wish these establishments who support our son’s and others would make changes to the food they serve, I hoped this would happen after Covid, but it didn’t and would probably be too costly and they would likely just go to a shop and buy what they want. It really is a difficult one. I wish you well, take care.

[Rupertthebear in reply to 49Twister]

Thank you .

[dora01]

I agree wholeheartedly with 49Twister. My son is 41 years old and in supported living. No matter how many times over the years we have asked for support with diet and weight there has rarely been an improvement (just once in fact when he had an exceptional key worker) due to lack of staff consistency. We are about to tackle the issue once more.....

[Picklebum1946]

I am going through exactly the same mine just eats all the wrong things and snacks all the time she has over past few years weight creeping up she had bloods done 3 months ago showed high colestrol had a fasting bloods recently it’s now higher

Will. Not take any notice of me I’m worried sick