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Original poster

My child seems to have a food addiction

101 replies

fucketyfuckwit · 21/10/2021 20:29

Any parents of secret eaters?

I keep finding wrappers everywhere! The last straw has been an empty pot of hot chocolate powder and a spoon down the side of the sofa. Last week it was a box of icing.

DD is 10. Overweight and seems to be addicted to food/sugar.

Any advice please. I don't quite know where to turn next.

and I really fancied a hot chocolate

OP posts:
ZealAndArdour · 21/10/2021 20:31

Therapy.

00100001 · 21/10/2021 20:31

Ditch the junk in the house...?

GingerScallop · 21/10/2021 20:32

I know it's hard to see them these days but talk to your GP?
Am sorry you are dealing with this. Stay strong

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Families
Sparkletastic · 21/10/2021 20:32

GP and dietitian referral for eating disorder.

MaizeBlouse · 21/10/2021 20:34

Yes definitely see the GP and in the mean time remove all junk food.hiw old is the DC? How overweight do you think they are?
What is the child's typical diet? and be honest!

Original poster
fucketyfuckwit · 21/10/2021 20:36

I don't have any junk in the house. We don't have crisps, biscuits etc. Just some hot chocolate powder. Some royal icing at the back of the cupboard from an old Xmas cake.

She has 3 good meals a day plus something like a yogurt for pudding. She doesn't go hungry.

OP posts:
Original poster
fucketyfuckwit · 21/10/2021 20:37

Sorry the wrappers are for things like yoghurts, low fat baby bels, bread sticks. Anything she can get her hands on. I have to have some food in the house.

OP posts:
00100001 · 21/10/2021 20:38

But you said you keep finding wrappers everywhere? What wrappers?

What does a typical day of food look like for her, including rough portion sizes?

saraclara · 21/10/2021 20:41

How long has she been doing this for, OP?

OnceuponaRainbow18 · 21/10/2021 20:44

I would speak to her about it, try and up her exercise and make sure she’s eating enough for her main meals

Original poster
fucketyfuckwit · 21/10/2021 20:44

She is not hugely overweight. She is nearly 11 and is in age 12 clothes. She is quite tall.

She had cereal for breakfast. I don't buy sugar so she will have 2 weetabix with milk or some cornflakes, shreddies etc.
She had a school dinner which are often very carby but apparently not very big.
We have fairly healthy food for dinner, spaghetti Bol for tea last night, we have Salmon with new potatoes and veg. Her portions are good sized but mainly with the healthy stuff.

She will have a yoghurt or fruit for pudding.

It's more the fact that she has so desperate that because there is nothing in the house to eat she will resort to bloody hot chocolate powder!!

OP posts:
Clocktopus · 21/10/2021 20:45

I'd be wary about providing details of her diet, OP. There will be helpful posters but also posters who will delight in sticking the boot in for their own amusement.

I'd keep a diary of what she's eating, what wrappers you're finding, etc to see if there are any patterns - for example, is she taking food on specific days or after specific events such as an argument? Next port of call would be either the GP or the school nursing team, you need a paediatrics referral to rule out any underlying health issues (including mental and emotional health) that could be causing her weight gain/increased appetite and you need a dietician referral as they'll be able to assess her current diet and support you both with making some sustainable changes.

WhatMattersMost · 21/10/2021 20:49

I'd second a trip to the GP to rule out any underlying causes, such as emerging type 1 diabetes.

00100001 · 21/10/2021 20:49

Ok, so salmon dinner. One fillet of salmon, how many potatoes?

Because actually it doesn't sound like she's having much at all really.

2* Weetabix and milk would only be around 250 Cal's

Her primary lunch is likely to be around 350-400.?

And her dinner is what? Maybe 400?

She's probably hungry...

00100001 · 21/10/2021 20:51

There's something missing if she's overweight in the diet you mention.

You've either;

Accidentally omitted some food/snacks/drinks

Underestimated what a "good size portion" is

Or there's something medical going on.

NigellasMicrowave · 21/10/2021 20:51

I wonder if it could be hormonal, OP? If she’s tall for her age, are her periods likely to start soon? It sounds like she’s craving quick energy fixes if it is pure sugar she’s after. Like others have suggested, I wonder if she needs more calories but it is worth a trip to the GP for blood pressure, blood sugars etc.

Ihaventgottimeforthis · 21/10/2021 20:54

Sounds like a normal diet!! Definitely not one that means she is overweight yet SO hungry she is eating dry hot chocolate powder.
Have you asked why she is sneaking food?

CouldBeWrong · 21/10/2021 20:57

Restriction leads to binging.

samwitwicky · 21/10/2021 20:58

Have you spoken to her about it?

MrsTumbletap · 21/10/2021 20:59

That really isn't a lot of food, if that's a normal day she wouldn't be overweight, she is barely eating any fat.

lastqueenofscotland · 21/10/2021 20:59

Yep she could just be really hungry!

MrsCardone · 21/10/2021 21:01

OP, my DD aged 9 is like this, but it’s out only started a few weeks ago. In that time she has become obsessed with food.

We eat a healthy plant-based diet but she’s adding to it with jam on toast and extra cereal, etc. She is actually looking a bit, dare I say it, tubby.

I wonder if it’s anything to do with puberty?

JaneDoe21 · 21/10/2021 21:02

So 3 meals and a yogurt for pudding a day? No snacks in between? That is your problem. She is clearly hungry and sneaking food.
You need to sit down with her and find out if this is the issue and fix it.

Throwntothewolves · 21/10/2021 21:04

Are her energy levels ok? As a teenager I would sneak spoonfuls of icing sugar or chocolate powder. I had a healthy diet otherwise albeit a vegetarian diet, and was always skinny. I just lacked in energy because of all the growing I was doing at that age. I wasn't allowed to snack on sugary treats or rubbish, so I'd get my energy fix that way. I didn't sneak other things though so it may not be that in your DDs case

katienana · 21/10/2021 21:06

I'd give her banana with the cereal, some fruit or a crumpet when she gets in from school and something nicer than a yoghurt a couple of times a week. Could you walk to the shop to buy a treat so you only have that 1 item? Have you always had no sweet foods in the house or I'd this something you've implemented as a reaction to her eating habits?