Please or to access all these features

SN children

Here are some suggested organisations that offer expert advice on special needs.

Autism and overeating help

4 replies

Mumtoboys1 · 06/02/2024 01:18

My DS is 9 and diagnosed ASD is overweight for his age and doesn't really like to be physically active for a long time without rest. He is constantly hungry and always asking for something to eat. This was the same when he was having bottles ( he didn't stop having them till about age 6) I know alot of this is my fault but if you know the struggle you know. Mealtimes have always been a consistent so he always knows when he will eat, he is quite fussy but the things he does like he would happily have everyday, and always finishes everything on his plate even licks the sauce of the plate clean! Straight after he will ask for something else, he never seems satisfied, it's constant every single day he even sneaks treats upstairs the other week he had eaten 4 wispa bars we didn't even know he had them. He gets in such a bad mood if I say no to him, he has strong memories of being with his grandma and him eating Jaffa cakes which he talks about all the time. It comes across like I'm starving him and that's how I feel most of the time with how much he begs I feel like he must be hungry because he keeps on asking. I can't keep everything out of his reach he will climb up and get things from cupboards. He has access to healthy foods all the time but nothing seems to stop this obsession. Even at night time when I say no he will say ' even just a cracker? Even just an orange ? ' Is this something anyone has experienced? Is it worth me speaking to GP? He does tend to listen to professionals he has been drinking water daily since the dentist reinforced it. Any advice is appreciated.

OP posts:
Mouldyfoot · 06/02/2024 13:26

No advice just that my daughter (9) is exactly the same. I started allowing her to chew gum and it’s really helped giving her the sensory input she’s seeking from chewing food. Interested to see others responses

Mumtoboys1 · 06/02/2024 16:31

Thats interesting I was thinking similar but with chew toys thanks a lot!

OP posts:
Usernumber46463746284737383 · 06/02/2024 17:38

Hi OP, I don’t have much advice as my 13 year old ds is exactly the same. It’s partly because he simply likes the food, also that he doesn’t feel when he’s full and a sensory need for him.

ds has gained weight and developed unhealthy habits. I have took him to the doctors, they offered a healthy eating course which I didn’t do as I already have the knowledge, it’s just hard to enforce it with ds. But he has been accepted into the excess weight clinic, I’m not sure what they can do but I’m hoping he may listen to them over me as he often makes unhealthy choices at school.

I sympathise OP, it’s bloody hard and it’s not as simple as some people think it is. My ds has got aggressive if I’ve said no to him before.

like I said, not much help but you are not alone with this 💗

Mumtoboys1 · 06/02/2024 21:44

It is really hard as most of the time I am giving him the food but only because of how relentless it is when he asks! And now he also sneaks stuff as well, I am going to book GP appointment just as a precaution to see if there's any help!

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page