15 year old wants to join slimming world?

[reeviet]

Hiya,

My daughter is 15 and weighs 18 stone. There has been a constant battle with her weight for a very long time. She has been under CAMHS since she was 12 and has just been discharged after having therapy, she is in a very positive place right now.

She is very keen to join slimming world, has been following Instagramers/YouTubers who are doing it and also wants to learn to be better at cooking from it (currently can not even fry an egg!)

I have about 2 stone to lose, so would be more than happy to join with her (which she has asked) and they seem welcoming of her age group and because she is so positive about it, I feel it might be worse to say no?

Any thoughts and opinions please?

Im not sure why you need any thought or opinions on this. Your daughter is severely overweight and wants to do something about it.

Sounds like a positive thing for you 2 to do together. Good luck. (I'm not a massive advocate of SW as I think educating yourself is better.. but there is something motivational about going to group and weekly weigh ins).

My sister went to ww at 14 - she’s now 43 & has been slim ever since (which is more than I could say for most of the regulars there, some of whom have been going for many years..).

In terms of diets the accountability & social aspect are good compared to others. I fundamentally disagree with both sw & ww obsession with low fat and low sugar (which are replaced with all sorts of shit) - but they do encourage cooking from scratch & an awareness of portion size which can lead to good habits.

What is your objection OP?

I was 15/16 when I joined Weight Watchers with my mother.

It was good for me as I lost weight, although my mother's own dieting and issues with food during my childhood may have contributed to me being overweight in the first place!

I wasn't quite sure if taking her to somewhere like that was the best option, that's why I'm asking. I'm not here saying "daughter wants to lose weight, not sure if this is a good idea" - of course she needs to lose weight, but I was just asking from people who maybe have opinions on slimming world and the groups and if it's a good place for a relatively fragile 15 year old.

I’d give it a go! If you both go together it will be a super opportunity for you to plan , shop and cook meals together . Just don’t buy into all the low fat crap they try to encourage . Better with lower quantities of proper food .

They are supportive environments - a lot of thought has gone into the psychology of the ‘message’ they send out. As previously mentioned just avoid all the ‘low fat’ nonsense & eat smaller quantities of real food & ww/sw can be a great help.

SW do a slightly different program for 11-15 years old that they can sign up to if their parent/guardian is there as well.
If you both go, you can support each other and think about how to change your meals for the better and perhaps get her involved in planning and cooking together.

SW do do a programme for teens - I dont think they pay either.

As she's keen to go I think it's a very positive step.

The programme for teens is far more about making healthy choices, and lots of emphasis on exercise. When I went there was a 12 year old girl who was about the same weight at your daughter, although tall for her age - about 5’7 or so. She was made to feel very welcome, and it was lovely to watch her growing in confidence. She lost a few stone, and grew a few inches, and although she was still a big girl (tall, strong athletic frame), she seemed very happy and healthy She plays for a local netball team now and if often in the local paper.

If she's wanting to lose weight, Slimming World is a sensible and healthy way of doing it. (I do it as well)
There's a young teen at our class - at that age it's focusing on making healthy choices and exercise, not weight at all.