Adult autistic son with obesity

[Skippymcdoo29]

Hi my son is 31. He has autism (but went thru mainstream schools) and is now obese. He lives at home and was made redundant last year after working as a driver for 5 years which he hates as it made him anxious. He also has depression. He only has 1 gcse, maths and is going to college to retake English for the 4th time but he’s not really interested in it and finds it hard. I can’t motivate him to do anything. He was on wegovy last year and lost 2 stone but got pancreatitis so had to stop and now put it all back in again. He has no friends but doesn’t seem bothered just plays video games. It breaks my heart. I just want him to have a life. No one seems to be able to help. Any advice?

[Haltonmoor]

Hi

Is he receiving medication for his depression? A mild anti depressant might give him a different outlook on life. Does he shop for his own food? Has he had any guidance on healthy eating? If he could have some help with his shopping trolley and an incentive not to fill it with crisps and Mr. Kipling cakes (my 29year old sons favourite). Ask him to cook several times a week or batch cook so he has healthy meals in the freezer. Encourage him out of the house every day for a walk. Is there a local dog charity that needs volunteer walkers? Is there a local litter picking group? Is there a church he might join to give him a sense of community? I find it impossible to motivate my own son to try any of the above he does however walk everywhere and takes himself off to the cinema two or three times a week, goes to a couple of local ‘gin’ bars and chats to locals. He has never been into gaming but spends hours watching dvd’s. Lives with his older sister who cooks healthy meals five days a week and can manage to peel a potato and carrot occasionally. Difficult to change them once they establish a pattern. I think it must be to do with their autism. If he can drive he is higher functioning than my lad, but doesn’t help if he doesn’t walk everywhere. Will he respond to a chart showing his weight then set a target for weight loss? My lad does have scales and is supposed to stay below 15 stone. Just a few ideas but a visit to the GP for a general checkup and a BMI calculation and a leaflet on healthy eating might be a good starter. Also to help his depression. Every person with a learning disability is entitled to a health check every year.

Not easy is it

[Skippymcdoo29 in reply to Haltonmoor]

Many thanks for your reply and no it isn’t easy is it! Yes he’s on antidepressants-he’s on his 3rd kind and although they help him sleep, they also make him hungry! He generally doesn’t eat cakes and chocolate but is over 20 stone now I think although now he won’t weigh himself. He did the nhs tier 3 weight management service for 6 months but lost no weight.

You’re lucky that his sister is happy to look after him. My son has 3 older half siblings but they don’t bother with him. He’s never been assessed for a learning disability. After his autism diagnosis at 4, no one really got involved bar a bit of speech therapy at school. There doesn’t seem to be help for us carers either. It’s nice to find a community here. Thanks!