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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

DD 17 has gained 2 stones in 9 months AIBU to be worried ?

93 replies

Humptyabouttofall · 19/03/2018 09:43

My DD 17 yr old has gained 2 stones in 9 months. She has always been healthy, sporty and satisfied with her appearance and has had a good relation with food. In April last year though due to persistent facial acne we went to the doctors who advised she started taking the pill to see if that helped, which it did and at that time she weighed 8 stones. By August, acne was back, not as bad but doc put her on antibiotic tablets as well. Big improvement after that, but not sure which of the 2 things was helping the most. By September, weight gain was apparent but we put it down to having moved to the UK (lived abroad before August) and she has a lot more choice of foods here. I mention this because 2 1/2 years ago she was diagnosed with various food intolerances (before diagnosis it was very scary for her - intermittent pains in joints and muscles all over her body).
By September we were noticing a lot of mood swings in her and she also started to say she couldn't stop eating, she never felt full and didn't feel in control of herself around food. Her weight gain was noticeable in her clothes but she didn't weigh herself during all this time. I took it lightly, because I know she only eats and home and I know what's in my cupboards or else when we are out as a family and I couldn't really see that she was binging that much, so I told her not to worry, do more exercise as she wasn't being as active and chill about it. Finally though came to the conclusion ourselves that she should stop the pill to see if this helped with moodiness and weight. This she did in October. Since then moods are a lot better though she hasn't had a single period (which I find worrying too) though she has continued to gain weight to the point that on 3rd Feb at the doctors she weighed 10 1/2 stones. Doc not too concerned but we asked to get to see a diet specialist DD herself thought this external help would be positive for her. Still waiting for the appointment. Lately she is being very careful with what she eats and being more active but feels bad about herself and she is plagued by stretch marks all over her legs and bum. (btw no acne, but still on antibiotics). I want to help but I don't know how to. Her mental health concerns me the most. Any suggestions will be very welcome. Thank you very much.

OP posts:
QuimReaper · 19/03/2018 12:07

OP ignore the posters accusing you of being judgmental - it's very clear you're just concerned and supportive. Obviously you do need to avoid giving her a complex, but ignoring the fact that she's unhappy and refusing to help is not going to make her feel better at all.

davidbyrneswhitesuit · 19/03/2018 12:07

It's still a healthy weight - but only just under the overweight bracket, and that much weight gain in so little time is worrying. I think GPs can tend to be perfectly happy with lots of weight gain as long as you're still under the overweight threshold, but if she carries on she'll tip over into the overweight category.

I'd strongly suspect the change in microbiome from the antibiotics may not be helping - most GPs wouldn't think about stuff like that. And do push for hormone and thyroid checks, with a different GP.

MsRinky · 19/03/2018 12:08

As someone with PCOS, I would say definitely get this checked out, sounds very familiar.

Sugarpiehoneyeye · 19/03/2018 12:16

Get her some Bio Oil from the chemist, to put on her stretch marks, hope everything turns out fine.🌸

whampiece · 19/03/2018 12:19

British doctors are notoriously shit

Well that's some statement.

PeterRabbitEatingHisCarrot · 19/03/2018 12:25

I really feel for her. I think you need to focus more on her mental health than her weight. Of course, try and found out the cause of her weight gain but mental health is more important IMO. A lot of girls get stretch marks at this age and yes, they can be quite distressing but it's important to remember that she's not the only one.

Original poster
Humptyabouttofall · 19/03/2018 12:32

Lived in north European country, colder than here, she was less active there. Sure she's had stress linked to the move of country, we all have. It is a factor I always have in mind. She is happy we moved to the UK. Blamed the other country for all her prior health problems.
And the past 3 years have not been easy at all. When she started with her muscle and bone pains she had all sorts of blood tests and examinations to discard all sorts of ailments from rheumatoid arthritis to thyroid problems. Hospital and doctors didn't even find the solution - though they did suggest it was just her perception of pain ?!!
Finally it was a naturopath that advised a blood test for food intolerance. As soon as she stopped taking dairy products and wheat her constant pains vanished. So since then she has been very strict about what she eats, knowing full well the importance of how what you eat affects your body. All this journey though has been a very long and drawn out process.

Her acne only developed after getting her food intolerances under control.

OP posts:
Original poster
Humptyabouttofall · 19/03/2018 12:34

DD uses BIOOIL every day

OP posts:
Original poster
Humptyabouttofall · 19/03/2018 12:35

But how can I help her with her mental health ? Any suggestions please ?

OP posts:
liminality · 19/03/2018 12:39

Has she genuinely been on antibiotics for a year? Cause they can really mess up your digestion, maybe that's why she feels always hungry.

Seeline · 19/03/2018 12:42

A friend of mine was diagnosed with coeliac disease and went GF. She put on pounds in weight. Presumably her gut recovered and was finally absorbing all the nutrients it should have done? May be it's the change in diet avoiding her trigger foods.

Original poster
Humptyabouttofall · 19/03/2018 12:44

Antiobiotics Lymecycline 408 g since mid August 17

OP posts:
PlumsGalore · 19/03/2018 12:45

Not a lot to add other than an awful lot of DD's classmates (including DD) piled it on during sixth form (16-18).

Lots of reasons but I put it down to a combination of the following:

Most had part time jobs so their own income to spend on hot chocolate at Costa, sausage rolls in Greggs, Maccies etc

The college canteen had delicious, but high calorie lunches such as lasagne, chicken mayo wraps etc. plus venders filled with crisps and chocolate which were banned in school.

The age when they started going to parties, or into town and drinking alcohol.

The age when lots grew out of their childhood activities and felt too old for dancing classes, sports clubs etc.

The age when some of them started taking contraceptives.

The age when they preferred to lie in bed on their days off instead of getting up and being active.

The age when they would sit indoors and chat (flirt) in the common room during free periods rather than being forced outside to wander round the playground in the cold.

The age when some were learning to drive, or went to sixth form not within easy walking distance to started getting buses or driving.

PerfectlySymmetricalButtocks · 19/03/2018 12:46

Graphista I reached my adult height at 12. I'm a shortarse.

specialsubject · 19/03/2018 12:53

Bio oil is a con so forget that. Stretch marks either go or they don't.

naturopaths also con, hope you didn't pay for advice to have a blood test.

I'm her height and was that slim at 16 - haven't been since. But as other mention, it is the rapidity of the gain that is a concern so some health checks worth a go.

Inthedeepdarkwinter · 19/03/2018 13:03

It is also very common for men and women to put on a lot of weight at university, when their diet is unrestricted and doing sports may not be the thing any more (and no compulsory games). I think it's known as the 'freshman stone' in the US!

It does seem very rapid, and perhaps the Pill coupled with antibiotics has altered her gut/sense of being hungry in some way? I put on a lot of weight but that was through a different type of medication known to make you put on weight- I have had to suck it up as the medication does help.

Mental health wise, did you mention this to the dr? There are local counselling services and services for young people struggling with mental health issues in our area but you need to google/go to the drs to know about them.

guggenheim · 19/03/2018 13:14

op I had very bad acne which continued into adulthood. I took the mini pill & antibiotics as prescribed by Gp. I didn’t gain weight but had loads of really unpleasant reactions to both drugs. My acne came back once I stopped tak8ng them.
The best & most effective treatment I had was some laser treatment at a skin clinic. It was bloody expensive but worth every penny. Acne really eats away at your confidence. Is there any chance she could have laser treatment and then a make up tutorial for covering up scars?
(Of course I hope she doesn’t have scars )

It’s a much more effective treatment than long term antibiotics . I have incredibly sensitive skin and react badly to all kinds of products, which is ankther common trait with acne. Please don’t use heavy duty scrubs / skin peelers because that will make it so much worse.

TheTroutofNoCraic · 19/03/2018 13:14

OP...similar happened when I went on the pill at that age...albeit for contraception rather than spots.
I, too, was 5ft4 from age 15, was about 7.5 stone and went up to 9.5 stone on the pill (over course of about 8 months) iirc it took about 6 or more months after quitting for the weight to drop back down and my periods to come back. So please try not to worry too much and continue just supporting your daughter as you are....take your cues from her.
Also, the stretchmarks will fade in time to silver and be barely noticeable. They tend to be normal at that age anyway as that's when your hips mature.

Jenasaurus · 19/03/2018 13:15

I would think it could be the antibiotics, they feed pigs antibiotics to make them gain weight, I think it works by increasing appetite so maybe a cause as you said she feels hungry all the time.

Allthewaves · 19/03/2018 13:20

She's still in healthy bmi - max for 5'5 is 10 stone 10. I would however be questioning the fact her periods havnt returned

londonista · 19/03/2018 13:46

I think a few people have forgotten how body conscious you are at 17. I obsessed over every blemish, lump and bump, freckle etc.

I don't have any answer OP, sounds like you're doing everything right. Assume you've ruled out thyroid issues, in your shoes, I would probably look at gut flora, if she's been on antibiotics for ages. It can definitely mess up digestion and fat absorption.

I don't know what your financial situation is like, but you can always go private for the dietician. We do for my son, and it's not been cost-prohibitive so far.

Good luck - you're obviously trying to make sure she's happy in her self and you need a big thumbs up for that.

Downtheroadfirstonleft · 19/03/2018 13:46

If she's been on antibiotics for a while, could they have damaged her gut bacteria biome (which can lead to weight gain).

Have a look at Dr Mike Mosley's book about the importance of the gut to health and weight.

PersianCatLady · 19/03/2018 14:02

I agree that Bio-oil is a con and did nothing but give me more spots

londonista · 19/03/2018 14:07

It gave me spots as well!
Surely they don't still advertise it for stretch marks? Been debunked so many times.

giggidy1 · 19/03/2018 14:10

Where has she gained the weight? I wouldn't say the weight is necessarily a good indicator of size. When I hit my early twenties I changed pill and suddenly filled out on my hips and bum and my boobs grew about five cup sizes! I was 164cm and weighed about 10 stone.

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