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Parenting teenagers has its ups and downs. Get advice from Mumsnetters here.

Teenagers

DS 15 & weight

11 replies

Yorkshiremum17 · 23/05/2019 22:58

My 15year old DS has always been a tall lad, he's currently hitting 6ft, infact he's grown so quickly over that year that he has stretch marks across his shoulders and back and hips. His growth has slowed down now, but I've noticed over the last month that he is starting to develop a big tummy. I've mentioned to him that he needs to be careful and made sure there's is always healthy options available for him to eat but he says he's always hungry . We eat pretty healthily, but as a family need to do more exercise.
I don't want to make a massive thing of it but he needs to lose some weight and not sure at 15 how I can help that happen if he's not bothered. Any suggestions gratefully received.

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SolitudeAtAltitude · 23/05/2019 22:59

Get active as a family, walks and sport, get out and move?

Too simple/hard?

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BrokenWing · 23/05/2019 23:01

There is no way on this planet my 15 would get active with us as a family. What physical activities has/does your son or his friends do?

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Pipandmum · 23/05/2019 23:05

It has to come from him. Just don’t buy sugary cereals and such - better for everyone. My son was always chubby but at 13 took himself in hand and lost the weight and is now (15) looking towards a career in the fitness industry. I had always encouraged healthy eating but the motivation comes from within.

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HoneysuckIejasmine · 23/05/2019 23:11

It definitely needs to come from him. At this age, it won't be easy to force him. You can make sure there's no snack foods etc ... Maybe suggest he gets involved in meal planning and prep?

Or, show him what excess skin looks like once you lose large amounts if you've been overweight for a while. If I could go back and show teenage me the state of my thighs now, I might have done something about it sooner.

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Broken11Girl · 24/05/2019 00:41

You can't force him to do anything, and if you try you will just make things worse.
Stop mentioning it. At 15 he's more than independent enough to buy junk food at school and generally when out, and if it becomes 'forbidden' he may just do that more. I used to cycle between dieting, and eating a load of junk whenever I wasn't with my DM (and denying and hiding it). Boys can get eating disorders too.
He might be about to shoot up again, some kids podge then grow rapidly and slim down. Or he might be stopping growing and just not have realised he needs to eat less.
If you want to get healthier as a family cool, do it, just please don't single him out.

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FreeFreesia · 25/05/2019 09:56

Does he get lifts everywhere? Try to make it so that he has to walk a bit more? I've made it so that DS has more protein at breakfast instead of cereal every day. Scrambled egg a couple of times a week is quick.
DS has always played tennis but a lot of his yr10 friends have suddenly got into it. Is there a new sport he could try with friends?

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0ccamsRazor · 25/05/2019 10:06

Maybe cut down on simple carbs as carbs are basically sugar also cut out refined sugar. So cut down on potatoes, flour, pasta, etc. Go for more protein and veg (8 to 10 portions of veg). Up water intake and exercise more. Limit fruit juice to 1 portion and fruit to 1 or 2 portions.

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MummyBear2352 · 25/05/2019 15:35

Please dont give him a complex, as long as he is eating healthy food.

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Yorkshiremum17 · 23/06/2019 21:28

Just remembered I'd not been back to this, sorry.
My son is doing much better thanks, I took a good long look at what we are eating and realised that I had supersized his bread rolls, got in to the habit off crisps every day at lunch and cakes every weekend. I also realised that we were eating less home cooked and more easy cook food, so not as healthy as I had kidded myself. I have gone back to basics, reduced the amount of carbs we were all eating, stopped buying crisps and cakes used cheese and nuts as healthy snacks and am happy to say that my son has started to lose his double chin and podge! Actually we are all feeling much better for eating better, fresher food. A sharp lesson on keeping your eye on the ball! Thank you for all your comments. They made me take a hard look at or eating habits😁

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Backintime4breakfast · 24/06/2019 20:19

So can I ask how any of you counteracted the availability of junk food to & from & at school? His walk to school is a short one & he is very very resistant to any exercise, unless there is food at the end Of it!
My son is like this.......there is no junk at home & I home cook.
I think I am probably controlling too much, but it breaks my heart to see him so overweight & unwilling to do anything about it.
Apologies if this has hijacked the post!

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Yorkshiremum17 · 24/06/2019 21:34

I have no doubt that my son probably gets the odd bar of chocolate but he takes pack up to school and doesn't take any cash or card so difficult for him to buy stuff. He has a mile walk home straight up a steep hill. I don't know what the answer is, im just trying to make it as healthy as I can at home