My daughter is in the middle of her GCSEs. Since revision has started, her eating habits have been quite out of control. She's not had any history of mental health issues or eating disorders.
She was at risk of this happening during lockdown too (eating tonnes of snacks) but she was younger and I was more in control of her meals and she couldn't go to the shop by herself etc. She has never been a skinny girl, but not overweight either. Since about March, she's put on 2 stone.
Until this point, I have never commented on her tenancy to over eat. But today I had to say something. I picked her up after her exam and she had bought herself strawberry laces and an ice cream. I also saw in her bag a packet of 5 iced buns. I asked her who they were for and she said they were for her but she would have them over the next few days.
I've just been into her room and she's eaten the lot of them, on top of the strawberry laces and ice cream. She's also had breakfast, lunch and dinner.
This is happening ALOT. I can only describe it as binge eating. She's definitely not being sick (being sick is a massive phobia of hers).
I did comment today and said I'm quite worried by her unhealthy eating as it is not healthy to eat 5 iced buns. She said she only eats badly on school days (this isn't true). At the weekend she'd been to M&S when in town and bought a box of 10 mini rolls and ate the lot, plus a McDonald's. I did not mention weight at all, only health.
My daughter enjoys make up, clothes and looking nice. She is gaining SO much weight and will soon lose all her confidence. She's 12 stone and 5ft 2 (I know because she has a health condition and is weighed and measured at clinic every 3 months). She is already quite overweight.
When I spoke to her today about her unhealthy eating, she said 'are you trying to fat shame me?'.
How do I approach this? I obviously don't want to give her an eating disorder but also I don't want her to be 15 stone by the end of the year which is where this is heading.
We are a family of fairly normal eaters, no diet talk. Always try to get our fruit and veg in. I think we've modelled healthy eating with treats in moderation. Nothing has ever been banned or labelled bad food.
As soon as she's had a bit of her own money and freedom, this has started.
AIBU to have mentioned it to her? How should I approach this? I can't take her bank cards or stop her heading to the shop by herself and she tries to do alot of this (un)subtly