Overweight so

[Never2L8]

Hi I could use some advice on helping my 13 year old son lose weight. He is difficult to talk to about it. Can be very sensitive about things. He is she quiet. Doesn’t make friends easily. Doesn’t like sports. Likes drawing. Likes cooking and food. Has a very healthy appetite. And loves gaming. Xbox, iPad, and just watching YouTube.
My wife and I both work a lot and he is often home on his own on Saturdays and in the summer.
The other 2 older boys love sports, biking, and are very active. As well as playing on the Xbox.
I’ve tried to take him to a gym which is really kid friendly. Not a muscle gym but with body weight exercises and fitness. He hated it but I think they worked us to hard the first time.
We eat pretty healthy but there is a bit of take out as we are quite busy.
Any suggestions?

If he loves cooking and you guys work so much, why don't you task him with cooking everyone dinner on the understanding it must be healthy? I bet he could make something great with a few pointers and the take away budget!

Most of his likes require very little movement. I would encourage more movement particularly as you have said his siblings enjoy the outdoors. They could try a few outdoor activities together. Maybe start with short walks and then gradually increase the distance. Sometimes children believe they don't like something then try it and end up liking it.

He might not like being active but if you explained the benefits to his health to him without mentioning that he has gained weight or weight at all, it may help. He also loves cooking so I'd encourage cooking together and making healthier versions of take out. If all else fails I'd cut out dairy, snaking and wheat for a while.

Maintain the same level of food intake, slight increase to physical activity (walk with headphones fav music), and wait for growth spurt. If one of your neighbors has a dog, he could walk it.

Thanks guys some good advice here. Great idea to get him thinking about healthy food and cooking it. He has packed lunches which I make every day. I’ve tried to make them healthier. No crisps, I include carrots and cucumbers as a snack. Plenty of fruit. I try to cook him a healthy breakfast in the morning. Poached or scrambled eggs.
I think he has noticed that his mother and I haven’t been getting along very well over the last couple of years.
I think he comfort snacks. I know I have to stop myself!
I’ve started getting him to walk the dog and that’s good. Longer walks and I can go with him would be nice.
Also if he’s home without us he snacks on toast and jam. We’ve got 3 boys who seem to be very lazy when it comes to cooking for themselves. Even the oldest who’s 17 can’t be bothered that much.
I think we made it to easy for them.

I think you are already doing a great job re: the packed lunches etc! I also think as parents we always think we can do better. Which is natural. On the food front you seem to be taking the necessary steps, just encourage more movement without making it feel like a chore. He's a teenage boy, which makes it complicated as it is. But you can implement a more active life by doing things with him outdoors (subject to your availability) without him feeling like it's being done for the purposes of weight loss (which is a sensitive issue even for an adult). Good luck.