Overeating

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ds1 was diagnosed with adhd when he was about 9. I took him to a private specialist centre. I've tried to get help from CAMHS for years, but they aren't interested as he's coping okay at school. They also said he has Aspergers traits. He suffers from tics, anxiety and dyspraxia too.

He's always had a good appetite and he is a bit overweight, mainly because he won't exercise and has poor stamina.

He does overeat, inspite of us hiding food and I find all kinds of wrappers in his bedroom

I'm getting worried about him. He's 13 and I know they eat a lot at that age, but is this normal. I found an empty mini pot of cream in his room just now. I use them for my coffee and was wondering where they'd been going.

What can I do about this? He's always sneaking stuff and we have to put things into the shed now, but he still goes into the fridge and out to the shops.

Should I take him to see the doctor?

I'd have a chat to your GP. There is a medical condition, called Prada Willis syndrome, which causes excessive need to eat. It's also associated with learning difficulties. I'm not saying this is what he has, just that it needs checking so your GP is the best place to go.

My dd age 13 has also has the same issues with food. She's under investigation for ASD/ADHD/dyspraxia etc. She had a blood test to rule out prader willi and she does have some similar developmental issues but it came back negative. It is believed that food is her ASD obsession as she loves everything about it, from cooking it to watching program's about it!

He doesn't have any learning difficulties. I'll take him to see the GP in the new year. I've been fobbed off so many times by CAMHS that I'm scared of trying to access help for him They go on like it's my fault, but he's so obsessive about things and also suffers from anxiety. I would say he has some ASD traits. I worry about his health with the overeating though.

My dd doesn't have any learning disabilities which normally accompanies prader willi but they checked for it as it is also a spectrum disorder which means that not all people with prader suffer with learning disabilities. It really worries me because regardless of what is causing it she needs support with it which is unfortunately not forthcoming. She doesn't feel full and if allowed would eat till she was sick and like your son has poor stamina so doesn't exercise. In fact she refuses to walk wherever we go but we're not sure if due to hypermobility/low muscle tone. We're waiting for a physio assessment to try to find out what's going on. She will also eat ketchup/mustard etc out of the bottle and I've been told its sensory seeking. I hope things go well with the GP x