DS has never eaten very much at all, even as a little one he barely ate enough to keep a bird alive and what he did eat was all the wrong foods. He refused all vegetables, rice, potatoes and would literally only eat pasta, pizza, chicken and some meats. Then he would eat a small amount and then be quickly ‘full’
He’s now 18 and is 6’1 but weighs 9 stone. He looks painfully thin. He’s never got the time to eat, gets up for college too late, grabs a sandwich at college then is out with friends or at his evening job at McDonald’s (where he will eat a small meal on his break) but mainly is out driving around in the evenings and comes in late.
Today he got up late, I was out so could see he’d made a ham-sandwich for lunch. He ate the centre of the sandwich throwing away the crusts. He then went out just as I was making tea saying he would have his portion warmed up later. He’s just come in and gone straight to bed saying he’s just not hungry, he’s not had food out.
I’ve tried explaining that he’s not hungry because he’s not stimulating his appetite by eating enough but his attitude is that if he’s not hungry he won’t eat.
Part of this is control I think, he knows he can press my buttons using food as the weapon as this has been a theme throughout his life.
Should I leave him alone or intervene? I don’t think this is an anorexia issue, just more the fact he can’t be bothered to eat and has no appetite. He never looks healthy, he’s pale and wan looking. Anyone else had this?