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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Obese inlaws - health issues. Frustrated and sad. And a bit angry. Probably unreasonably so.

155 replies

shagmundfreud · 01/01/2012 17:13

Long and a bit ranty. Sorry. Need to get it off my chest.

The family I married into has had problems with obesity since I've known them (17 years) but it's only in the past 10 that the chickens have started to come home to roost. As thread title says, I'm feeling sad and angry about the situation, but also worried at how it may affect my immediate family, because dd (12) is now beginning to develop a weight problem as well. Sorry for the length of this - I've been chewing this issue over during Christmas and really want to unload.

MIL - morbidly obese pretty much her whole adult life. She now has type 2 diabetes and heart problems. And arthritis. And has never fully recovered from a botched hernia operation a few years ago which was complicated by her obesity.

FIL also morbidly obese. He had a stroke a few years back while MIL was recovering from her botched surgery and was still in hospital. At 79 he weighs about 18 stone and is only barely mobile. He's incontinent and starting to become senile.

SIL morbidly obese and hypertensive. She's 50 and has just been told she will be diabetic in 2 years time. Her pancreas isn't working well at the moment but she's not yet developed diabetes proper.

BIL is obese and a smoker. He's had to retire after having a heart attack at 48.

Their youngest dc is 12 and is obese.

All in laws are lovely, lovely people, and morbidly obese SIL in particular is a beautiful person inside and out. I really love her very much.

But I've started to feel angry and intensely frustrated at how intelligent people - because not one of them is stupid - can be so fatalistic about their health and not see what's staring them in the face: that they eat way, way, way too much, and it's ruining their lives. Sad

Family parties involve obscene amount of food, whatever the time of year. A casual family barbecue will involve every conceivable type of meat: ribs, burgers, chicken, steak, sausages. It's expected that all the adults present will eat a couple of burgers, a couple of hot dogs, some chicken, a massive portion of lasagna, some steak, salads, garlic bread. And the children too. And at least three types of pudding. Oh, and lashings and lashings of full-fat coke, which is poured for the children into massive plastic cups. Last time DH invited the family over I asked him whether it made sense to cater for them in this way - we're either encouraging ridiculous waste (which we don't approve of and can't afford) or ridiculous overeating.

Obese SIL talks about being a bit 'naughty' and helps herself to two or three heaped tablespoons of double cream on her (massive portion of) pudding. Then has another portion afterwards, with a little tinkle of conspiratorial laughter. And we all play along. Sad When she came back from her recent set of blood tests she told me that the nurse had said the fact that she was going to develop diabetes had nothing to do with her weight. That she'd develop it even if she was (SIL's words) 'a twiglet', because there's a family propensity towards diabetes (other SIL has had type 1 diabetes since childhood). I appreciate that there is SOME truth that she is more likely to get diabetes but surely, surely, the fact that's she's morbidly obese is an aggravating factor?

A couple of weeks ago I cracked and said to SIL that she needed to do something to protect her health, and told her I was worried about her. We discussed using internet tools like my fitness pal to log her food intake. I deliberately mentioned it because I know that the problem isn't generally that my SIL eats junk food. Actually she's an amazing cook and creates beautiful, usually healthy food. Just way, way, way too much of it. And she eats too much. I know this because I've had so many meals with her over the years. I can't tell you how many times I've had to ask her to take food off my children's plates when we've eaten at her house and she's been serving. Her response to me suggesting measuring and logging her food intake was 'oh I really couldn't be bothered with doing that - I'm just too busy'. And then in the next breath talk in a fairly non-committal way about having to do something about her weight.

It makes me want to scream.

They've done all the plans, joined all the clubs, and failed to lose weight. Or lost it and put it straight back on. Her and MIL join together, and then conspire to cheat together. They undermine each other's attempts to lose weight, and BIL is constantly sabotaging SIL's efforts too. They comfort themselves by convincing themselves that actually they eat quite healthily, and that SIL is fitter than a lot of slimmer women because she walks to work every day (about a couple of miles over the course of the day - but she doesn't do speed). And that they could be hit by a bus anyway, and that their health problems are genetic, and .... you name it. Excuses, justification, trivialising the issue day in and day out.

Also watching MIL serving absolutely MASSIVE portions to my completely sedentary 18 stone FIL. And when I say massive - I mean a big plate with food piled up to the height of about 4 inches and falling off the edge of the plate. Huge curries, corned beef hash, stews..... The sort of plate of food any normal person would serve up to a 21 year old man at the end of a day of working down a mine or building a house. I mean - this is a woman who was a nurse. And she's his carer for goodness sake. Sad I don't think she takes any responsibility for his health problems, which are immense and are both caused and complicated by obesity, as are hers.

Anyway, so now dd is showing signs of over-eating. She's JUST within the normal BMI for her age, but is at the top end of it and edging towards being overweight. She has muffin tops, big thighs and is starting to carry a lot more weight than is healthy around her middle. She doesn't have a big frame. I can't bear the thought of a fat future for her, with all the possible health problems that can go with it, especially in a family with a tendency towards diabetes and hypertension. I try so hard to be sensible about portion sizes and serve healthy food, but she just eats and eats and eats. When she's bored. When she's tired. Because she wants to. I'm starting to suspect she see's overweight as being normal and nothing to worry about, despite the horrible fall-out she sees around her.

Should add - I'm a bit overweight myself and am trying hard to address this issue, with some success. This has happened in the last few years as I'd always been a skinny before developing thyroid problems at 43 (I'm 45 now). But I take my health and DH's health seriously and will do everything I can to stay as well as possible for as long as possible, for the sake of my children and the rest of my family, as well as for myself.

Anyway, if you've got this far, well done. Smile. Am I being unreasonable to have such strong feelings about this issue. Or should I keep my big nose out of my inlaws eating habits?

OP posts:
GlueSticksEverywhere · 03/01/2012 16:20

I make a vegetarian sausage casserole/stew type thing. The sausages are quorn and so very low fat and the sauce is tomato based. I use 1tsp of oil in the whole thing.

TracyK · 03/01/2012 17:47

Surely an omlette isn't too bad? Try and restrict it to 1 egg per omlette - which I prefer anyway as its more like a crepe. Then she can make a 2nd one if she likes - but prob can't be arsed.

JestersHat · 03/01/2012 17:51

YABU. Just do what you can for your own family and other adults can sort themselves out.

Popbiscuit · 03/01/2012 18:09

I think you should limit the time you and your daughter spend with your inlaws OR try to get together to do things that don't focus on food. She's seeing them as a point of reference and is learning that it's OK to eat that much (it's not) and that it's OK to eat all sorts of junk (it's not) and that it's ok to be sedentary (it's not). I think your daughter is probably old enough to be told that you're uncomfortable with the way that your family members disregard their health and that in order to protect your (and her) health you will not condone their lifestyle.

Get some healthy cookbooks that might appeal to her age bracket, read healthy cooking blogs (there are lots!), walk as much as possible and try to focus on moving more. Sign her up for as many activities as possible (builds self-esteem as well as getting her active) and try to find some things you can do together. You could do a couch to 5k program together or join a fitness club or go for long walks with the dog.

Fill the fridge with easy things that she can grab too...big containers filled with veggie sticks and some yummy homemade dip, a big bowl of fruit salad, fat-free Greek yogurt (really filling), egg whites for omelettes etc. or make a big frittata that can be sliced up. Big, hearty, clear veggie soups are great for filling you up, not out too.

Tortington · 03/01/2012 18:12

i have a huge - we are talking supersize tent dress size MIL.

she has n't been a point of reference for anything

if your dd is becoming fat thats your fault plain and simple - you feed her the majority of the time - you are her moon - you are her stars

if she goes to grannies and eats nothing but chocolate - in and of itself will not make her fat if she other wise has a healthy diet and excersises

tb perfectly honest - i really cannot understand why anyones elses weight is any of your business - with the exception of your daughter - whom you are responsible for.

deltashad2 · 03/01/2012 18:23

At least when you guys stand next to them you'll look great :D

ChippingInLovesChristmasLights · 03/01/2012 18:31

I think you also have to consider that she may be in a permanent state of that horrible couple of days you sometimes get before your period where you are absolutely starving. Most of the time I can take it or leave it with food - I can miss meals and not even think about it - but those couple of days get between me & food & I may eat YOU! If she is going through that almost permanently (until her period arrives) it would be really horrible to be deprived of food.

If I was you I'd take a good hard look at what the most important thing is here at the moment and for me that would be one of her other behaviours and not her eating.

Also, you really, really don't want to alientate her at this age - you want her to be able to talk to you.

I would put this aside for now and focus on strengthening your relationship with her and only telling her off/punishing her for really serious stuff and try to ignore the rest (including what she does or doesn't eat).

GlueSticksEverywhere · 03/01/2012 18:38

How often does she go to the in-laws?

Popbiscuit · 03/01/2012 18:51

But Custy, if DD is constantly seeing her beloved grandparents, aunts and uncles eating that way it does become a point of reference and it normalizes those behaviours for her and it normalizes being obese. Those are not normal or healthy eating behaviours, they are aberrant. It would be the same as letting your child spend time with relatives that constantly drank to excess.

sheeplikessleep · 03/01/2012 19:10

I really feel for you OP. We are in a similar position, after a few days at the in-laws, I am always a bit shocked at the amount and type of food that is eaten. Inevitably Sad, my niece is 10 and wearing size 10 adult clothes (I suspect it may be larger tbh) and has developed fat spots on her liver. My nephew is off 1 day a week with migraines (he just eats sweets constantly and no meals really other than pizza). My MIL says my niece is just 'unlucky' with the fatty deposits and that it isn't her diet. I say nothing, as they always make comments about me being stick thin (I'm not, I'm a size 10/12 and still have a baby belly but anyhow). It is so hard, it really is. I really hope the Dr knocks some sense into SIL.

No help post, but I think all you can concentrate on is your daughter, your family lifestyle and what food you have in. She has a fantastic role model in you and her Dad and I guess she just needs to see maybe other families eating habits that show that to eat the amount your ILs isn't normal. Good luck.

shagmundfreud · 03/01/2012 20:14

"if your dd is becoming fat thats your fault plain and simple - you feed her the majority of the time"

Yes - we feed her healthy food and we're careful about her portion size.

But she's not a toddler, she has some autonomy with food and her 'norms' are partially set by the extended family who she has seen EVERY WEEK since birth.

"tb perfectly honest - i really cannot understand why anyones elses weight is any of your business"

For the same reason why I take an interest in my sister's alcoholism: because what they are doing is killing them, and it's heartbreaking. (should add, hurray for my sis who has been 'dry' for 8 months now..... and part of what motivated her to stop was the rest of the family telling her how worried they were about her mental and physical health).

OP posts:
shagmundfreud · 03/01/2012 20:15

sheep - feel so, so sad for your niece. Fatty deposits on her liver already? Good grief. Sad

OP posts:
sheeplikessleep · 03/01/2012 20:50

i know shagmund, makes me so sad too. i do think though that other adults are responsible for themselves. focus on your daughter (which you're doing) and educate her as to what is normal portion sizes. does she have many friends? surely the peer influence can help? if it were me, i'd try to minimise the in-laws influence by watching food programmes, having other families/friends have daughter for tea, cooking together etc. also ensure her physical activity too. it's hard.

pleasedtomeetyou · 03/01/2012 20:57

Hi Shagmund, I am the nutritionist that you were talking to last night, but I've changed the name as a lot of detail about me working on mags etc came out, and my username was my childrens. Confessions of a fat nutritionist!!! ha ha ha.

pleasedtomeetyou · 03/01/2012 21:05

'i really cannot understand why anyones elses weight is any of your business....'

I would like to ask the person who posted that this question: If you had a relative who smoked, and you could see the black tar clogging their lungs, and they smoked around your children (or if you haven't got them, someone you dearly loved), whether that wouldn't then be any of your business.

I'm not having a dig - I would like it explained a bit so that I can try to understand your mindset, and why this doesn't apply to the obvious signs of unhealthy eating patterns.

pleasedtomeetyou · 03/01/2012 21:07

Sheep: Look back at Mumofmollyandjosh comments. I was a size 22 by the time I was 12 (some funny stories too!). I am a nutritionist now. Things can be turned around.

Tortington · 03/01/2012 21:41

seriously

keep children away from fat grandma as she is a bad role model.

for fucks sake

that take the biscuit even for mumsnet.

pleasedtomeetyou · 03/01/2012 21:46

That is so cynical it made me laugh and laugh and laugh!

QuintessentiallyShallow · 03/01/2012 21:48

You need to set a precedent with family meals.

Salads, fish, healthy foods, smaller portions. You need to stop the feast for gluttons that your family put up.

fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 03/01/2012 21:49

What custy said

pleasedtomeetyou · 03/01/2012 21:50

custy... can you come to school with me? There are a few mums who could do with your approach. I'd like you to be my new best friend.... stacked up with all the ammo you can muster.

lisaro · 03/01/2012 21:53

I'm still shocked that most people are encouraging the OP to blame other relatives for her 12 year old daughter being overwight. FFS she's 12! This didn't happen overnight. When you saw the problem why did you keep giving her lunch money to buy crap? This is lax parenting, however much you wrap it up.

Tortington · 03/01/2012 21:58

new best friend? done.

pleasedtomeetyou · 03/01/2012 21:58

There are lots of research papers to show that young teens use food as a way of expressing their independence (for example, there is real concern about deficiencies of calcium in teenagers, and risk of osteoporosis later in life) because they stop drinking milk, thinking it is 'too babyish'. The same is also true of meat.
Nutrition is such a fascinating subject.

Coralanne · 03/01/2012 22:07

You're a very sweet person for showing so much concern for your in-laws.

Essentially, everyone has to take responsibility for their own health.

It's the old saying "You can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink"

Be there to support them when things go wrong. As far as your own DD is concerned, maybe show her some actual medical literature about the effects of obesity.