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Parenting

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My 7 year old daughter is indirectly asking me about my obesity

288 replies

littlepinkbow2025 · 08/09/2025 21:10

My 7 year old daughter is an active girl at a healthy weight. Because of conscious decisions her father and I took while she was a baby, she actually likes healthy foods.

I'm unfortunately an obese mom. Recently, she has been indirectly asking me about my obesity and I'm scared to answer her questions. How a parent talks about one's own weight issues can seriously affect a child's body image. Any advice ?

OP posts:
bluecampbell · 08/09/2025 23:56

I think you only need to ask yourself one question, OP. Would you like your daughter to lose her mother at an early age? Because if you don’t, then your path is clear.

I lost my mother at an early age because she didn’t take care of her health and I have struggled ever since with the combination of missing her desperately and being furious with her for not caring enough to look after herself. I urge you not to let that become your legacy.

ttcat37 · 08/09/2025 23:57

The answer to her questions isn’t a conversation, it’s actions. Stop cooking 2 lots of meals and all eat the same- healthy food. This is not fixed with a conversation, sorry. You’re looking for an easy fix rather than to resolve the root of the problem.

Outside9 · 08/09/2025 23:58

You can lose weight and change your life.

Don't let anyone convince you otherwise.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Someone2025 · 09/09/2025 00:00

littlepinkbow2025 · 08/09/2025 21:43

I needed to hear that.

Already, some kids have teased my daughter because I'm so overweight.

On average how much have you been gaining each year?

Frequency · 09/09/2025 00:01

CinnamonJellyBeans · 08/09/2025 23:21

OP hasn't asked for weight loss advice and some of this advice must be making her feel like shit about herself and her parenting.

Lots of parents smoke and drink to excess, or take drugs putting themselves at risk of early death. The physical evidence is not as tangible as excess fat, which is why kids might not question it, until they are old enough to understand that their parent is unhealthy.

OP, I'd simply respond by telling her the truth: Your relationship with food is not healthy right now, as you eat too many sweet and fatty foods, this means you are overweight and not as mobile and fit as you would like. You'd like to be slimmer, but that's not your number 1 priority right now.

It's important for you not to reduce your value to her, just because you are overweight, so she does not learn to equate value with body size.

This.

100%.

The replies on this thread are shameful. Since when has shame ever helped anyone lose weight?

OP the above poster is entirely correct, your value as a person and a mother is in no way connected to your weight.

It sounds like you want to lose weight, so I do think you should try by making small, sustainable changes and building on them week by week, but do it for you, not because anyone (your child included) has made you feel ashamed. You will never be able to stick to it if you're doing it for others.

Enjoying fatty, sugary foods is not pathetic; our bodies are literally hardwired to crave those foods. The problem is that they are a lot more readily available than they were when we evolved to crave them.

InfoSecInTheCity · 09/09/2025 00:08

@littlepinkbow2025at my highest I was about 21 stone, I’m 5ft 8 and that had me in the ‘morbidly obese’ category which is a delightful label.

Over the years I managed to lose, gain, lose, gain…. Settling at around 16-17 stone as the point I always returned to, I was obese in primary school so being big was my normal and always had been.

Last year I was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes and had to accept that I needed to change or I’d lose my feet, eyesight, or die. I was initially put on insulin and metformin, I completely cut carbs from my diet but my sugar levels were still high so I was lucky enough to be prescribed Mounjaro by the diabetes team and it has been wonderful.

In 12 months I’ve lost 5 and a half stone, my weight is in the healthy BMI range, I weigh less now than I did when I was 11, I enjoy exercise and actually like going to the gym, I enjoy healthy food and have salad every day and veg with every meal. My diabetes is in remission and I’m just on Mounjaro now I’ve been able to drop the insulin and metformin. I will remain on Mounjaro long term as it’s controlling my sugar levels, though I will likely trial reducing dose slowly but how low will depend on how my sugar levels respond.

I really really recommend making an appt and speaking with a GP, ask for blood tests to check your HbA1C and thyroid levels, make sure there is nothing physiological that you need to be aware of and address and then consider WLIs as a possible aid to help you lose weight.

99bottlesofkombucha · 09/09/2025 00:13

I agree this should be a wake up call. I suggest 3 steps , introduce them one at a time as change is hard. first you eat the healthy meals with them. Eat your unhealthy food after, tell yourself you still get your food you just have to eat this first, tell yourself it’s setting an example for your dd and it’s precious time with your family. Second, before eating your junk you ask yourself does my tummy want this? Will I feel better? And if your brain says you do want it, ask your brain and tummy how much they want.
3rd you do sound like a candidate for weight loss injections. In your place I would. It will be much more successful a move if you’ve put the healthy food first plan in already though.

InMyShowgirlEra · 09/09/2025 00:16

It might help to know that the vast majority of people like greasy food and sugar. We're hardwired to seek out high calorie food because, like all animals, we evolved to survive in times of scarcity.

When you see a skinny person, remember that they don't just happen to love grilled chicken breasts and salad and hate chips, they make choices that aren't especially fun but are better for them in the long run. However, it is true that when you change your diet to include less salt, sugar and fat you start to enjoy other foods more because your tastebuds become more sensitive.

As others have said, Mounjaro might really help you, but what your daughter would probably benefit from seeing is you saying, "You're right, I can't play with you as long as I want to, and I'm going to change that. I wanted to eat pizza tonight but instead I'm going to have the same salad that you and Daddy are having, I don't love the taste but I do love the idea of being a healthier Mummy for you."

Mistyglade · 09/09/2025 00:30

I really hope you can lose weight and learn to enjoy healthy food, you'll be living a full life with your dd and dh without the guilt or shame. Btw you can still eat sugary food occasionally, it tastes a million times better when it’s a treat. Start today. X

AmoozzBoosh · 09/09/2025 00:38

The thing about a lifetime of eating unhealthily is that your brain is now primed to it, so making healthy choices may not come easily.

This doesn't mean you can change your habits - you absolutely can - but it's important to recognise that for a while it's going to be weird, feel hard and you will always need a measure of discipline.

Understanding habit formation & neuroplasticity is key, I think. There's a great book called The Source by Tara Swart which you should check out.

Start small - manageable baby steps.
Consistency is key.
You will "fall off the wagon", probably more than once. That's OK- just get back on.

Mess up one day? Fine. Do better tomorrow.
Having a bad week or even month? OK, but you've already made progress so just start again, you'll still be in a better position than if you give up.

If you only manage 1 day out of 7 of better habits, that's still 1 day more than you're doing now so don't beat yourself up, just carry on

If you use a handwritten diary, buy some stickers and put a sticker on every day in which you improve or maintain healthier habits. When you look back, you'll be able to see at a glance how you're improving and if you fall down, you'll be better able to identify why and remind yourself of how well you were doing before.

Use bright sparkly stickers or whatever- red, yellow, green could be good for highlighting improved habits, maintained habits or old habits.

We're more likely to build habits that stick when we can see progress.

If I were you, I'd start by reducing my portion sizes of unhealthy foods at mealtimes and supplementing with the same as husband & daughter. That way you're still getting the immediate dopamine hit while introducing healthy choices regularly. Over time, reduce the unhealthy portion in favour of the healthy portion and start swapping out old unhealthy meals for full healthy ones.

If you take 3 sugars in your tea/coffee reduce them by a teaspoon or even half a teaspoon at a time.

It will take time for your tastebuds to adjust, but they will. As a young teen, I hated salad - seriously it made me miserable - but one 3 week holiday with family friends where salad was served daily & I was too polite to refuse it, and by the time I got home I was converted 😆

If there's an emotional aspect to your dietary choices, which im guessing there is, get used to noticing and identifying your feelings and how you manage them. This will help you to replace unhealthy management behaviour with better choices. Journaling could help here.

Also a therapist - it's going to be tough and people who are very overweight tend to have lots of psychological factors tied in with their weight.

Rather than thinking of shameful vs virtuous behaviour - think about nourishing yourself. When you make a healthier food choice, you nourish your body and your mind. You also secure your daughter's wellbeing.

But, it's important to really teach yourself that you are worth nourishing and deserve to be healthy. You are not disgusting and you're not worth less than others.

It's going be tough because you need to reteain your brain and tastebuds, build new neural pathways and be kind to yourself when you don't do as well as you think you should.

Everyone messes up when forming new habits!

Nothing worth doing is easy, but the rewards for making changes are massive. You've got this- I believe in you :)

Catladyof7 · 09/09/2025 00:40

littlepinkbow2025 · 08/09/2025 21:27

The simple answer is, I like sweets and greasy foods. I know how pathetic that sounds.

So do i ,BUT i dont want to drop down dead just yet and i am a lot older than you.

I consciously decided to go on a diet 3 months ago when i was getting out of breath going upstairs , i also have a minor heart condition .
Since then have lost almost 2 stone and still want to lose another 2 stone to get to my goal .

I havent eaten crisps, greasy food or anything like that, no cake, no biscuits .
Food i love ….But not worth dying over .

AmoozzBoosh · 09/09/2025 00:41

Ps start following foodie social media channels and healthy eating socials - I find the more I'm exposed to others doing the thing I want to adopt, the more I feel inclined & inspired to make changes. Can help it feel less daunting.

Get support too. Easier when you have a team.

JFDIYOLO · 09/09/2025 00:45

She is asking very valid questions.

She and her father eat well.

Yet you're consciously role modelling unhealthy self indulgence, waving it away with "because I like sweet and greasy foods"?

She's worried about you. She's already made the connection between your choice of habits, its results and the fact that it's having a bad effect on your health. She's noticed your breathing, for example.

Listen and respect her observant concerns and put them and your health ahead of your likes.

That would be a great healthy role model for her.

Catladyof7 · 09/09/2025 00:45

I also was fat as a child and bullied relentlessly.
My mum was fat , not so obese but fat , size 18-20 .
I was starting to feel size 18 was getting tight on me , thats when i woke up .

I also think i am ugly …a parent again who used to tell me i was fat and ugly .

68 years down and i still think i am fat and ugly . I can lose weight though , hopefully

AmoozzBoosh · 09/09/2025 00:46

Catladyof7 · 09/09/2025 00:40

So do i ,BUT i dont want to drop down dead just yet and i am a lot older than you.

I consciously decided to go on a diet 3 months ago when i was getting out of breath going upstairs , i also have a minor heart condition .
Since then have lost almost 2 stone and still want to lose another 2 stone to get to my goal .

I havent eaten crisps, greasy food or anything like that, no cake, no biscuits .
Food i love ….But not worth dying over .

This sort of reply isn't helpful...You wouldn't say something like this to someone with anorexia and people who are very obese have similar complexities when it comes to food.

Replies like this just tell a person 'well I can do it, why can't you' and what they hear is 'I'm better than you & if you don't manage it then you're a failure'.

Shame is an poor motivator for making positive changes in one's life.

Catladyof7 · 09/09/2025 00:46

I was a lot thinner in my teens and up to my 40 s. Size 10-12 then .
Some health issues always made it hard to lose weight , buggered hormones and pituitary tumour

Catladyof7 · 09/09/2025 00:47

AmoozzBoosh · 09/09/2025 00:46

This sort of reply isn't helpful...You wouldn't say something like this to someone with anorexia and people who are very obese have similar complexities when it comes to food.

Replies like this just tell a person 'well I can do it, why can't you' and what they hear is 'I'm better than you & if you don't manage it then you're a failure'.

Shame is an poor motivator for making positive changes in one's life.

Not what i said , read the rest of my posts !

WannaFOffOnHoliday · 09/09/2025 00:49

Can people please stop suggesting wright loss jabs to someone who has clearly said her diet is bad

Try eating healthy first. Cutting out the junk and the greasy food.
Dont just take medication for something that you maybe able to achieve on your own

Catladyof7 · 09/09/2025 00:52

ShesRunningOutTheDoor · 08/09/2025 22:19

Go on mounjaro. It works. It isn’t that expensive as you save a lot lot lot of money on food every month.
please stay alive for your daughter.
if bmi over 40 you can ask GP for prescription

Not in the UK unless you have 4 more medical health problems as well as being obese .

user1492757084 · 09/09/2025 00:53

She knows the answer.
She is clever. She is really asking you WHY you continue to eat trash when she and her Dad eat healthily.
She wants you to say ..
Because I'm silly - and for you to stop and eat with them.

She wants you alive and healthy enough to participate in her life and see her children born into this World.
Can you seek help? Can you stop buying sweets and grease and just feed your mouth with healthy food?
Zip it to trash!

Would you let your daughter decide what you eat?
She seems to want you to eat like her.
Leap off and try that, Op.

If you are thirty years old now, then after another thirty years of eating healthily you will be able to say that you have eaten healthily for the majority of your adult life. You will have overturned your mother's bad example to you.

AmoozzBoosh · 09/09/2025 00:56

Catladyof7 · 09/09/2025 00:47

Not what i said , read the rest of my posts !

I didn't say that that's what you said, I explained why what you wrote isn't helpful. Two different things.

Morningsleepin · 09/09/2025 00:58

AmoozzBoosh · 09/09/2025 00:46

This sort of reply isn't helpful...You wouldn't say something like this to someone with anorexia and people who are very obese have similar complexities when it comes to food.

Replies like this just tell a person 'well I can do it, why can't you' and what they hear is 'I'm better than you & if you don't manage it then you're a failure'.

Shame is an poor motivator for making positive changes in one's life.

I don't see any shame, just someone trying to encourage another person

AmoozzBoosh · 09/09/2025 01:00

Morningsleepin · 09/09/2025 00:58

I don't see any shame, just someone trying to encourage another person

Again, merely pointing out how these things can be received when a sense of shame is involved.

pizzaHeart · 09/09/2025 01:04

I know it’s not what you’ve asked OP but I wonder if you have too much on your plate and unhealthy food acts like a comforter. You need to move some of your load towards your DH, he seems having much more free time.
I also would explain your DD next time that when you grew up there wasn’t so much info about how food affected people and your parents were not focused on this so you got certain eating habits. And it’s probably true. We know more now and more watchful.
Plus all bodies are different, there is difference between male and female, and there is difference between ages.

Catladyof7 · 09/09/2025 01:05

AmoozzBoosh · 09/09/2025 01:00

Again, merely pointing out how these things can be received when a sense of shame is involved.

Ok.
I have one sister left older than me , thinks willpower is the answer to dieting/losing weight .
She is size 8-10 , 85 years old, eats more in one day than i eat in 5 , likes a drink, cooked dinner and a dessert every night .

She also thinks i am fat and ugly with little willpower ,, despite me managing to lose almost two stone .

Thats my encouragement from my only family member , as expected as the rest thought the same .

I am still struggling but i will persevere .
Thats my will power , but i struggle when i really want to sit and watch tv and have a big slice of cake, crisps ,sweets and chocolate.
I cant now i have come this far .
I have nobody , so i am doing this for me .